Columbia  ^nitJem'tp 
intljeCitpotlfttjgork 


LIBRARY 


PURCHASED  FROM 
THE 

WILLIAM  C.  SCHERMERHORN 
MEMORIAL  FUND 


A 

GElS^ERAL     HISTORY 

OF     THE 

CHRISTIAN     CHURCH, 

J-ROM   THE 

TALL  OF   THE  WJ-STERN-  EZIPIRE 

To   THE 

PRESENT   TIME, 
St  JOSEPH  PRIESTLEY,   ll.  d.  f.  r.  s.  2;c» 

IN     THREE     VPLUMES. 

VOL.     L 


Nadus  sum  prateritos  dies   non  solum  graves^  Vcriim 

ttiam  tanto  atrocius    mheros^    quanta   hngius   a  re- 

medio  vercs   rciigionis  alienos  /    ut  merito  kac  scruta- 

tiojie    clarurrit,    regnasss  7ncrtem  avidam  sanguinis 

dum   ignoratur  recigio  quce  prohihuerit  a  sanguine; 

ista  illucesscente^   il/am  constupuisse ;    illam  concludiy 

turn  ista  jam  prcevalet ;  illam penitiis  nullam  Juturam^ 

cum  hcec  sola  regnabitc 

Orosius. 


mRTHUMBERLdNB:'t-^'P'r:nt!^d  lor  the  Author, 
By    ANDREW    KENNEDY, 


Och  tY 


P933 


<^1^4.'7B&t 


•Kfteaaoeal 


The    DEDICATION, 


to    THOMAS     JEFFERSON, 

Prefodait  of  the  United  States, 


SIR, 


M: 


Y  high  reJptB  for  your  charaUcr,  d^ 
u  politician^  and  a  man,  makes  me  dejirous  to  con^ 
neB  my  name  in  fame  meafure  zvith  yours,  -while  it 
is  in  my  power,  by  means  of  fome  publication,  to 
do  it. 

The  Jirjl  part  of  this  work,  which  brought  the 
hi/lory  to  the  fall  oj  the  Wejiern  empire,  was  dedi- 
cated,to  a  zealous  friend  of  civil  and  religious  liber" 
ty,  biU  in  a  private  flation.  What  he,  or  any  other 
friend  of  liberty  in  Europe,  could  only  do  by  their 
good  wifiies,  by  their  writings,  Or  by  patient  fuffer^ 
tng,  you,  Sir,  are  aBnally  accomplifhing,  and  upon 
a  theatre  oj  great  arid  growing  extent. 

It  is  the  boajl  nf  this  country  thai  it  has  a  confix 
iution  the  in-Ji  favourable  to  political  liberty,  and 
private  happinefs^   of  any  in  the  world  ;  and  all  fay 

a  2  thai 


IV 


The     DEDICATION. 


thnt  bf fides  your  great  merit  with  refpcB  tn  fcveral 
a>  tides  of  the  firjl  importance  to  public  liberty  in  the 
injlniment  iffclf,  *  you  have  ever  been  one  of  the 
Ji^aditji  Jritnds  to  the  genuine  principles  and  fptrit 
cf  it :  and  to  this  opinion  your  conduB  in  various 
public  ffices,  and  now  in  the  hi^hejl,  in  this  free 
Jiate,  give  the  ctcarfji  cltejlaticn. 

Many  hove  appeartd  the  friends  cf  liberty  while 
ihpy  wereJuhjeB  to  the  power  of  others,  and  efpecially 
•when  they  were  fuffcring  by  it-,  but  I  do  not  reco^' 
leB  one  beftdes  yjurfdf  who  retained  the  fame  prin- 
ciples, and  aEtedupon  them,  in  a  fituation  of  aUual 
p:wer.  You,  Sir,  have  done  more  than  this  ;  haV" 
ing  vcluntarily  propofed  to  relinepiifh  part  cf  the 
power  which  the  conflitution  gave  you  ;  and  infeaii 
of  adding  to  the  burdens  oj  the  people,  ycu  have  en^ 
deavoured  to  lighten  them,    tho'  with   the  necefjary. 

C01V* 

*  Wlien  the  constitution  Tvas  formed  Mr.  JeffcTSort 
-was  absent  on  the  service  of  his  country  in  EuropCy  but 
en  receiving  a  copy  of  it  he  wrote  strongly  to  Mr.  3Iadi» 
ion,  urging  the  zvant  of  provision  for  the  freedom  ofre- 
ligion,  the  freedom  of  the  press,  the  trial  by  jury,  the 
habeas  corpus,  the  substitution  of  a  militia  for  a  standing 
army,  and  an  express  resefvation  to  the  states  of  all  the 
rights  not  specifically  granted  to  the  union.  Mr.  Madi- 
son accor  dinghy  moved  in  the  first  session  of  congress  for 
these  amendments,  and  they  rvcre  agreed  to,  and  ratifedj^ 
l>y  the  states  as  they  now  stand. 


The    DEDICATION.  ^ 

eovfeqiience  of  a  pmportionahle  diminution  rfy-vr  in- 
Jluencc.     May  this  great  exatnple,   which  I  doubt  nvt 
luili  dtmonjlrute  the  praElicabt'ity  of  tru^y  rffuhli. 
ean  principles  on  ^^f  equal  righ(s  of  all  the  men>-  ers 
of  a  ftate,  by  the  adual  exijlenu  of  a  form  ofyivfu- 
f)ient  calculated  to  anfdocr  all  the  ufful  pu-^bf.^   :F 
governmeKt  (giving  equA  p^-ctrcl^on  to  all.  and  U.<v- 
in^  every  77ian  in  the  p  'jj^fjl  n  of  eve.--  y  power  ihji  he 
can  exercise  to  hi'i  own  aavantave.     vnh  vt  infrir>r. 
ing  the  equal  liberty  of  others)  be  f  II  curd  in  other 
countries,  and  at  length  btc^me  univnj  I.     Tie  (yes 
of  all  the  civilized,  ct  Icrfl  of  all  the  c/.yfliaiitzd. 
part  of  the  world  are  now  up  n  this  cfuiu  y  ;  as  luing 
evidently  in  a  fate  of  more  rapid  impr.vrment  tiun, 
any  other  was  ever  known  to  be  ;    and  I  tyiili  ih..t^ 
eventually,  your  adminifiration  will  be  a  hlrjju,g  nu6 
to  the  United  States  of  America  only,  but  tu  all  man^ 
kind. 

Another  reafm  why  I  wifh  to  prefx  your  nanis 
to  this  work,  and  mjre  appropriate  tj  the  fuhjeU  (f 
it,  is  that  you  have  been  the  Jlrenuous  and  wnform 
advocate  of  religious  as  well  as  of  civil  liberty,  both 
in  your  own  fate  of  Virginia,  and  thro'  the  United 
States  in  general ;  Jeeing  in  the  clear ef I  light  the  va- 
rious and  gr sat  mifchiefs  that  have  arifen  fiom  any 
particular  form  of  religion  being  favoured  by  ihefiate 
more  than  any  other.  In  confequence  of  this  the  pro- 
feffioii  andpra^icc  of  religion  is  here  as  free  as  thai 

a  3  of 


^1  The    DEDICATION. 

^j philojopliy ,  or  medicine ',  nnd  now  the  experience 
pfoyiore  than  twenty  years  leaves  Utile  room  to  douhty 
but  that  it  is  a  /late  oj  things  the  moft  favourable  to 
mutual  candour  (xo/iich  is  of  great  importance  to 
domrjlic  peace  and  good  neighbourhood)  and  to  the 
caife  of  ail  iruth,  that  nf  reHghn  le^fl  f  all  except- 
fd.  When  every  thin^r  is  thus  Irfi  to  free  difcvfjion, 
fhere  can  be  no  dcubt  but  that  truth  will  finally  pre- 
vail, and  eflablifh  itjelf  by  its  own  evidence  ;  and  he 
muf  know  little  of  hifory,  or  of  human  nature,  who 
can  imagine  that  truth  of  any  kind  will  he  ultimately 
unfavourable  to  general  happinefs.  A  man  mifl 
entertain  afecret  fufpicion  of  his  awn  principles,  who 
•wi/JiesJor  any  exclufve  advantage  in  the  defence,  or 
frofelJion,  of  them* 

Having  fled  from  a  flate  of  perfecution  in  Eng" 
land,  and  having  been  not  without  fm-e  caife  of  ap- 
prehenfion  in  the  late  adminiflration  here,  I  feel  the 
greater  fatisfaBion  in  the  prof peB  of  paffing  the  re- 
mainder of  an  active  life,  when  I  naturally  wi/lifor 
repofe,  under  your  proteBion.  Tho'  I  am  arrived 
at  the  ufual  term  of  human  life,  it  is  now  only  that  1 
(an  fay  I  fee  nothing  to  fear  from  the  hand  of  power  ^ 
the  government  under  which  I  live  being  for  the  frff: 
time  truly  favourable  to  me.  And  tho'  I  think  it  has 
been  evident  that  J  have  never  been  improperly  fw aye d 
by  the  principle  of  fear,  it  is  certainly  a  happinefs 
t^be  out  of  the  poJfibUity   of  its   influence,    cfpeciaUy 

tozvardi 


The     D  E  D  I  C  A  T  I  O  NT.  vil 

towards  the  clofe  of  life ;  enjoying  a  degree  of  peace 
and  rejl,  previous  to  the  flate  of  more  perfeH  rejl 
jfrom  labour  in  the  grave  ;  with  the  hope  of  rijing 
to  afiate  of  greater  activity,  fecurity,  and  happinefs^^ 
heyond  it.  This  is  all  that  any  man  can  wifi,  or 
have,  in  this  zuorld ;  and  this,  Sir,  under  your  ad-' 
minijlration  I  enjoy. 

With  the  mofl  perfcH  attachment,  and  every  good 
tuifli,  Ifubfcribe  viyfelf  not  your  fuhjeci,  or  your^ 
humble  ferv ant,  but 

your  fincere  admirer, 

JOSEPH  PRIESTLEY. 

Northumberland,  J^^y,  1802, 


S  \ 


The     PREFACE. 


I 


M  the  Preface  to  the  former  part  of  this 
work,  which  brings  the  hiRory  to  the  fall  of  toe 
Weftern  empire,  1  laid  that  I  was  unJeiermin-.d 
whether  I  fliould  carry  it  any  farther,  havir.g 
executed  what  1  thought  to  be  more  particularly 
wanted,  viz.  having  given  an  account  of  the  rife 
and  progrefs  of  important  opinion^,  which  ap- 
piarerj  to  me  to  have  been  greatly  mifconceived, 
and  mffreprefented,  by  all  ecclefiaflical  hillorians. 
Bur  I  intimated  that  if  I  fhould  have  leifure  in  the 
decline  of  life,  I  might  refume  this  hiftjry,  and 
perhaps  continue  it  to  the  prefent  time. 

This  leifure  it  has  pleafed  a  kind  pro^'idenC8 
to  give  me,  and  I  have  endeavoured  to  make  a 
good  ufe  of  it,  both  with  rcfpeft  to  the  continua- 
tion of  this  work,  and  the  compofition  of  feveral 
others,  belides  attending  to  the  bufinefs  of  my 
laboratory.  I  cannot  be- too  thanklql  to  the  fo- 
vcreign  difpofer  of  all  things  for  fo  great  a  hap- 
pinefs.  What  is  life  without  employment  ?  And 
ciofl  honourable  is  that  employment  the  objedl  of 

a  5  wJiiclj 


xil  The      PREFACE. 

that  cf  Switzerland  Rachat ;  in  that  of  Fiance  La- 
val, in  that  of  England  bifliop  Burnet,  and  in 
that  of  other  countries  the  bell  authorities  that  I 
could  prccure,    and  which  I  have  never  failed  to 

mention. 

Tho'  to  perfons  acquainted  with  books  the 
names  of  thefe  writers  as  well  as  thofe  ot  Fieury, 
Dupin,  Giannone,  Sueur,  and  Mofheim,  are  quite 
fufficient  ;  and  therefore  in  quoting  their  writings 
I  have  contented  myle.f  with  mentioning  their 
njmes  only,  yet  for  the  fake  of  others  1  fhall  at 
the  clofe  of  this  Preface  give  the  titles  ot  I'ome  of 
them  more  at  large,  with  an  account  of  the  edi- 
tions that  I  have  made  ufe  of. 

Tho'  the  JaHs  have  been  coHe-Sled  from  the 
writers  abovementioned,  the  arrangement,  and  the 
colouring,  as  it  may  be  called,  that  is  given  to  all 
the  particulaTS,  are  my  own,  and  for  them  I  am, 
therefore,  anfwerable.  In  thefe  refpeds  1  fliall  oftea 
be  found  to  differ  from  all  the  ecckfiaRical  hiflorians 
that  have  preceded  me  ;  but  I  willingly  fubmit 
to  the  judgment  of  the  impartial,  and  of  pofterity. 

Being  an  unitarian,  and  all  the  preceding  gene- 
ral ccclcfi^lllcal  hiftoiians  having  been  trinitarians, 
it  was  impofTible  but  that  I  (hould  fee  many  things 
in  a  very  different  light  from  them,  and  therefore 
•ur  reprefentations  of  them  will  be  very  different, 
when  there  is  no  difpute  c.bout  the  fa6ls,     Cha- 

ra^er* 


The     PREFACE.  xiiS 

ra^ei's  of  men,  and  of  times,  mufl  vary  with  tht 
fentiments  of  the  writers  on  fuhjtfls  of  fuch  im- 
portance as  thofe  in  which  I  difF^r  Irom  my  pre- 
deceffors.  Ot  this  the  leader  will  eafily  be  ap- 
prized ;  and  therefore  he  will  make  what  allowance 
he  fhall  think  necelfary  on  that  account ;  and  if 
my  readers  be  men  of  candour,  they  will  fliew  it 
on  this  occahon.  This  all  piotcRant  writers  do 
with  refpeQ  to  the  writings  of  CatholicTs,  from 
wbofe  hiftories  they  take  fafts  of  the  greattft  im, 
portancc,  when  they  differ'  from  them  the  mofl 
with  refpe£l  to  their  judgment  concerning  thofe 
f«6ls. 

The  divafion  of  this  part  of  the  hiflory,  like 
that  of  the  preceding,  is  not  that  artificial  one  by 
centuries,  to  which  nothing  in  the  nature  of  the 
fubje6l  correfponds,  but  accoiding  to  important 
events,  which  point  to  natuiai  periods  in  hiflory, 
civil  or  eccleliaflical.  And  the  fe6tions  under 
each  period  are  fo  diftind,  that  a  perfon  may  read' 
what  belongs  to  any  one  fubje£t  without  troub- 
ling himfelf  with  what  he  has  no  occafion  to  at- 
tend to.  To  give  a  general  hijlory  of  any  period 
diflinQ  from  the  particulars  of  which  ft  muft  con- 
fifl,  appeared  to  me  to  be  fuperfluous,  as  unnecef- 
fary  repetitions  would  have  been  unavoidable.  But  it 
will  be  found  that  the  firft  fedion  in  each  period 
relates  to  the  fubj:?a  which  is  mcfl  interefting  m 

that 


xvi  the     PREFACE. 

at,  is  nccefTinly  connefted  with  the  ccclefiaftical 
hiflory  of  the  times,  and  was  fo  more  efpeciary 
about  the  time  of  the  reformation  ;  fo  that  there  will 
be  no  w^nt  of  thefe  feparate  fe£lions  of  civil  hiOory. 
Alfo,  all  the  writers  of  principal  note  had  fome 
conneflion  with  the  hiflory  of  the  times  in  which 
lived,  and  therefore  their  names  will  occur  in  the 
courfe  ot  the  narrative.  Where  they  do  not,  which 
is  the  cafe  of  the  far  greater  number  of  the  writers, 
recourfe  mufl;  be  had  to  Cave,  Dupin,  and  others 
xvho  have  profefledly  given  an  account  of  them  all. 
In  a  hiflory  fo  general  as  this  is  in  other  refpe6ls, 
an  account  of  them,  to  be  at  all  fatisfa6lory,  would 
have  occupied  too  much  fpace. 

It  is  certainly  allowable  foran  hiflorian  to  give 
his  opinion  concerning  the  events  which  he  relates, 
thus  difcovering  his  own  principles  at  the  fame 
time  that  it  becomes  him  to  make  due  allowance 
for  thofe  of  others.  But  general  hiftorians,  pro- 
feffedly  avoiding  minute  details,  are  too  apt  to  giva 
their  opinions  of  events  inflead  of  the  events  them* 
felves,  and  this  without  any  intention  to  miftead, 
dedrous  only  of  compriling  as  much  as  they  can  in" 
a  fmall  compafs.  This  fault  I  have  endeavoured 
to  avoid,  and  without  ever  concealing  my  opinion, 
I  have  given  my  readers  a  fuller  detail  of  events  on 
which  to  form  their  own  than  they  would  pre- 
vioufly  cxpe6l  from  the  bounds   to  which  I  have 

con- 


the    PREFACE.  xvii 

cohfined  myfelf.  I  have  even  fometimes  thought 
it  proper,  in  order  to  give  a  clearer  idea  of  the  prin- 
ciples and  fpirit  of  particular  times,  and  of  re- 
markable men,  to  depart  from  the  chara6ler  of  a 
general  hiftorian,  and  to  be  very  particular  in  my 
recitals. 

Notwithftanding  ivhat  will  be  called  my  pe- 
tuliar  fentiments,  and  of  courfe  my  bias  in  favour 
of  them.  I  hope  that  the  moft  prejudiced  of  my  , 
readers  will  not  think  me  deftitute  of  candour, 
even  with  refpeft  to  thofe  who  differ  from  me  in. 
the  mofl  important  articles.  I  will  even  venture 
to  fay  that  no  eccleliaflical  hiftorj'^  that  I  have  feen 
is  equally  candid.  My  own  obfervation  and  ex- 
perience have,  I  hope,  taught  me  the  allowance 
that  is  due  to  the  force  of  prejudice  in  the  befl 
difpofed  minds,  and  the  abfolute  impoffibility  of 
accefs  to  truth  in  certain  htuations. 

Who,  in  what  are  called  the  dark  ages,  could 
te  expeQed  to  have  the  light  that  is  now  acceflible 
to  all  pcrfous,  whether  they  take  any  pains  in  the 
inveftigation  or  not  ?  They  muil  have  been  men 
fuperior  to  moft  that  have  ever  lived,  if,  at  the 
time  of  the  great  fchifin,  educated  as  all  Catholics 
then  were,  they  could  have  admitted  a  doubt  of 
the  immeniity  of  the  papal  power,  weak  as  f,ve  now 
fee  the   foundations  of  it  to  have  been,    of  the  ne- 

b  ceffity 


xnii  The     PREFACE. 

ccffity  of  one  head  to   the  whole  Chriftian  churcltj 
and  of  that  liead  being  canonically  eledcd. 

Confidciing  the  long  and  al moll  univerfal  pre- 
valence of  the  papal  power,  and  of  popifti  doftrines, 
it  could  not  be  cxpctled  that  the  firft  reformers 
from  popeiy  fliould  do  more  than  corredl  the  more 
prominent  abufes  in  doftrinc  or  difcipline,  and 
that  IVich  articles  of  the  common  creed  as  that  of^ 
the  divinity  of  Chrijl,  fliould  remain  untouched  by 
them.  It  was  even  natural  that,  in  order  to  fhcw 
their  unwillingncfs  to  proceed  to  extremities,  "and 
to  carry  their  difference  of  opinion  farther  than 
■was  abfolutely  nccellary,  they  fliould  exprefs  more 
zeal  than  they  otherwile  would  have  done  for  all 
the  do6liines  which  thcv  held  in  common  with  the 
Catholics.  By  this  means  they  thought  to  efcape 
the  imputation  oihercfy  andfchifm,  of  which  they 
appear  to  have  had  the  greatefl;  dread,  always  re- 
|>cllin«>-  the  charge  by  declaring  their  aflent  to  the 
decrees  of  the  antient  councils,  as  well  as  to  the 
dadrine  o^  the  fcriptiires. 

At  the  time  of  the  reformation,  tho'  the  papal 
pcvfccutions  had  been  fo  dreadful  as  muft  have  led 
many  to  rcflcfl  on  the  fubjed,  how  few  were  there, 
even  of  the  Protcftants,  who  iaw  the  impropriety 
of  the  civil  maoiflrate  inteiferin  c  in  the  bulinefs  of 
relifiioii,  or  who  did  not  acknowledge  the  oblijja- 
tion  he  T)^ai  under  to  fupport  what  he  thought  to 

be 


The     r  R-  E  F  A  C  E.  kJx 

be  the  caufe  of  God,  and  to  punifh  hercfy  with 
inore  feverity  than  any  offence  of  a  civil  nature  ? 
J^ay,  llrange  as  it  may  appear,  the  horrid  mode 
of  punifhing  heretics  by  burning  them  ahve  was 
practiced  ahke  by  Papifts  and  Proteflants,  by 
Cranmer,  one  of  the  meekelt  of  men,  in  England, 
9nd  by  Calvin,  a  man  of  a  more  ftern  temper,  at 
Geneva^  The  branch  cut  ojf  from  the  true  vine-^ 
ihey  thought,  was  to  be  configned  to  the  flames-, 
and  that  without  mercy. 

All  that  we  can  reafonably  expeft  of  the  bed 
of  men;    unhappily  labouring  under   fuch  preju- 
dices as  thefe,  is  that  they  fliould  be  truly  forry  to 
find  themfelves  under  the  neceflity  of  having  re^. 
courfe  to  thefe  violent  methods  of  fupportino  what 
they  believe  to  be  3.  good  caufe;    and  that  they  ufe 
^vcry  method  of  perfuafion   before   they  adopt  it. 
This  apology    will  not,    however,     apply   to    the 
tafe  of  Innocent  III    and  his  agent  Dominic,    to 
that  of  Philip  II  and  the  duke  of  Alva,    or  that  of 
Gardiner  and    Bonner  in   England.       Thefe  men 
feem  to  have  delighted  in   blood  and  torture.      If 
we  may  judge  from  circumftances,    and  the  extent 
of  their  cruelties,  they  felt  little  or  no  repugnance 
to  the  horrid  meafures  they  entered  into. 

This  principle  will,  however,  I  believe,  go 
pretty  far  towards  the  exculpation  of  Gregory  VII, 
•and  of  Thomas  a  J3ecket.      They  really  thought 

I)  2  ti^^cy 


?ixit 


The     PREFACE. 


ia  languages,  difrerence  of  tafte,  and  opportunity 
of  education  and  ftudy.     And,  what  is  of  infinite- 
ly more   importance,  there  have  always  been  ex- 
amples of  the  pureft  piety  and  virtue  in  times  the 
ijioft  fuperftitious ;     whi^^h  (hews   the  falutary  in-, 
fluence  of  Chriflianity  in  its  mofl  corrupted  (late. 
The  heathen  world  produced   no   charafters   that 
can  be  compared  with  many  in  the  moft.  unfavour-. 
^ble  times. of  Chnftiani.7.     Of  a  principle  o^ piety, 
the  heathens  rauft  neceifarily  have  been  deftitute, 
becaufe  they  had  not  t'^e  very  elements  of  it,  in  2^ 
knowledge  of  the  unity,  the  attributes,   and  provi- 
dence of  God;  and  all  their  views  being  confinedl 
to  this  world,    they  could  not  have  the  compre- 
henfion  and  elevation  of  mind  of  thofe  who  look 
beyond  the  grave. 

In  all  hiilory  vice  and  ioily  are  the  moll  con* 
fpicuous  ;  but  this  is  becaufe  they  are  comparative- 
ly rare.  What  occurs  every  day,  as  the  virtues 
of  private  life,  pafs  unnoticed  hy  hiflorians;  ir^ 
part  becaufe  they  are  common,  and  in  part  becaufe 
they  are  unknown.  But  judging  of  the  paft  by 
the  prefent,  we  may  fafely  conclude  that  virtue 
has  always  been  more  common  than  vice,  and 
that  plain  good  fenfe  has  always  counteracled  th^ 
tendency  of  fuperftition. 

To  read  the  avowed  principles  of  fome  Ca*. 
tholics,  a  ?:caIous  ];'rotc{lant  would  conclude  that 


The     PREFACE,  xxiii 

no  crime  could  long  burden  their  confciences ; 
lince  their  indulgences  and  abfolutions  would  ea- 
fily  relieve  them  ;  and  in  too  many  cafes  this  was, 
no  doubt,  the  efFe6t  of  the  prevailing  maxims  with 
refpe61;  to  them.  But  this  could  never  have  been 
the  cafe  in  general.  In  the  worfl:  ages,  I  doubt 
not  that  the  virtues  of  real  piety,  and  extenfive 
benevolence,  accompanied  with  humility,  and 
heavenly  mindednefs,  trom  attending  to  a  future 
ftate  more  than  to  the  prefent,  charadterized  not  ,• 
the  greateft  number,  for  this  is  not  the  cafe  at  pre- 
fent, but  a  very  great  proportion,  of  Chriftians, 
tho'  hiflory  takes  no  notice  of  them. 

Who  can  perufe  the  Memoirs  of  the  life  of  Pc^ 
irarch,  who  lived  in  an  age  of  as  much  fuperllition 
as  any,  and  by  which  he  himfelf  was  confiderably 
influenced   (as  his  attendance  at  the  jubilee  of   \. 
D.  1350  is  a  proof)  without  concluding  in  favour  j 
of  his  characler,  efpecially  for  the  lall  thirty  or  for- 
ty years  of  his  life,   that  of  his  numerous   fri'ends 
and  correfpondents,  who  were  in  the  upper  ranks 
in  life,  and  confequently  had  had  the  bell  educa- 
tion their  times  could  fupply,  and  alfo  that  of  the 
common  unlettered  peafants  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Vauclufe,   and   therefore  probably  o'   the  com- 
monalty in  Chriflian  countries  in  general  ? 

Were  we  equally  well   informed  with  rcfpe6fc 
to  other  periods  of  hiflory,  we  fliould,  i  doubt  not, 

b  4  bs 


^xiv  The     PREFACE. 

be  convinced  of  the  happy  influence  of  Chrifliaa 
principles  on  the  fentiments  and  morals  of  m&n, 
tho'  neither  thon,  nor  at  ihis  day,  do  they  prevent 
the  commifTion  of  very  great  crimes,  by  jierfons 
either  know  nothing  of  Chriftiariily,  or  who  give 
little  attention  to  it ;  which,  indeed,  is  the  cafe  of 
the  generality  of  thofe  who  make  profeffion  of 
it.  In  the  midll  of  light  they  walk  in  darknefs, 
fhutting  their  eyes  againft  it. 

Dark  and  ignorant  as  we  efteem  the  middle  agea 
to  have  been,  they  furnifhed  abundant  matter  to 
exercife  the  intelleftual  faculties  of  men.  The 
queflions  difcuflTed  by  thofe  who  were  called yc/ioo/- 
men  were,  no  doubt,  of  little  importance  in  them- 
felves,  and  often  excite  a  fmile  when  they  are 
mentioned,  tho'  they  were  of  as  much  importance 
as  many  of  thofe  that  were  difcuiTed  in  the  philo- 
fophical  fchools  of  Greece,  and  they  bore  at  lead 
fome  d.ftant  relation  to  a  fubje£i;  of  infinitely  greater 
moment  than  any  that  ever  came  within  the  view 
of  heathens.  They  reafcned  about  them  with  as 
much  acutenefs  as  was  ever  fliewn  by  man  on  any 
occafion  whatever,  and  they  led  by  degrees  to  that 
fyftem  of  rational  mctaphyfics,  which  Is  one  great 
boalt  of  the  prefent  age  ;  and  efpecially  of  the 
Englifh  nation. 

Other  fciences,  as  thofe  of  natural  philofophy, 
^Pirononiy,  chemiUry,  and  medicine,    were  at  the 

fawie 


The    PREFACE.  xxv 

fame  time  in  the  fame  low  and  impeife£l:  ftate  with 
that  of  theology ;  and  it  has  been  by  the  fame 
flow-  degrees  that  error  and  prejudice  have  been 
rooted  out  of  them  all,  and  that  good  fenfe,  aided 
by  the  labours  ot  thoulands,  have  contributed  to 
their  prefent  advanced  ftate ;  which,  however,  is 
but  that  of  infancy  with  refpe6l  to  them  all.  Theo- 
logy, therefore,  in  particular  has  nothmg  to  com- 
plain of,  nor  does  any  obje6tion  lie  to  Chrifliani- 
ty  on  this  account. 

As  it  is  in  the  order  of  providence,    that  man, 
and  the  world,   fhould   arrive    at   their  moft  im- 
proved ftate  by  flow  degrees,  we  have  no  particu- 
lar reafon  to  complain  that  this  order  has  been  ob- 
ferved  with  refpedl;  to  ecclefiaftical,  any  more  than 
civil  aff^airs,  religion  as  well  as  fcience.      It  is,  no 
doubt,  the  beft  plan  ;  becaufe  it  has  been  adopted 
thro'  all  nature  by  the  wifeft  and  beft  of  beings  ; 
and  as  we  find  a  ftate  of  childhood  neceffary   to 
that  of  a  full  grown  man,   all  that  we  complain  of 
in  the  dark  ages,  with  refpecl  to  ignorance,  abufes 
of  power,  and  all  the   aftonifliing   corruptions   ol: 
Chriftianity,     may  appear   in  time   to  have  been 
neceffary,  as  1  obferved  on  a  former  occafion,  *  to 
*'  the    perfe£t   underftanding,   the    firm  eftablifh- 

b  5  "  ment, 

*  See  my  Discourses  on  the  evidence  of  revealed  rf' 
iigion.  Volt  !•  P>  20, 


xxvl  Hie      PREFACE. 

"  ment,  and  confequently  to  the  happy  eflPefliS  of 
*'  it."  As  we  value  health  the  more  in  confequence 
pf  experiencing  ficknefs,  fo  we  fhall,  no  doubt, 
think  more  highly  of  the  value  of  truth,  from  re- 
flc6ling  on  the  grofs  ignorance  that  generally  pre- 
vailed before  the  difcovery  of  it ;  and 'valuing  it 
the  more,  we  fliall  be  more  attentive  to  apply  it 
to  its  proper  ufes. 

Few  things  more  excite  the  wonder,  and  often 
the  ridicule,  of  rational  Chriflirms,  than  the  excef^ 
live  mortifications  to  which  many  Catholics  in  the 
middle  ages  fubmitted.  We  think  it  ftrange  thst 
men  of  unqueftionable  good  fenfe,  and  ot  the  piirefl 
virtue  and  piety,  men  who  had  no  views  to  this 
world,  but  had  their  afFeftioTis  wholly  raifed  to 
another,  Ihould  think  themfelves  obliged  not  only 
to  deny  themfelves  the  moft  innocent  enjoyments 
of  life,  but  voluntarily  to  infli£t  upon  themfelves 
every  hardlhip  that  human  nature  could  bear  ;  and 
that  others  Ihould  hold  them  in  the  greatcft  ad- 
miration, while  we  regard  them  with  contempt, 
on  this  account. 

But  the  opinion,  originally  heathen,  tho* 
adopted  very  early  by  Cbriftians,  that  the  mortifi- 
cation of  the  body  was  of  eminent  ufe  to  purify  and 
exalt  tbe  foul,  and  alfo  that  the  more  we  fufFer  in 
this  world  the  more  happy  we  fhall  be  in  another, 
took  an  early  and  a  deep  root  in  their  minds  ;  and 

thola 


The     P  R  E  F  A  C  E.  xxvH 

thofe  auflerities  certainly  argued  a  great  command 
of  the  natural  pafTions,  efpecially  with  refpe6l  tQ 
fenfual  indulgence,  fuch  as  the  generality  of  man- 
kind are  altogether  unequal  to.  They  who 
prafticed  thofe  auflerities  were,  therefore,  very  na- 
turally the  fubje6l  of  great  admiration  to  others  ; 
and  confequently  their  voluntary  fufferings  were  a 
fource  of  complacency  to  themfeives.  We  alfo 
find,  what  was  not  unnatural,  that  Chriftians 
thought  it  a  fhame  that  fomc  heathens  ihould  make 
greater  facrifices  of  their  eafe  and  pleafure  to  their 
falfe  religions  than  they  to  the  true  one. 

We  fometimes  meet  with  the  mofl:  exalted  fen- 
timents  of  virtue  and  devotion,  tho'  bordering  on 
extravagance,  in  the  writings  of  thofe  who  in  othe? 
refpefts  adopted  the  moft  abfurd  opinions  and 
pratlices.  I  read  with  admiration,  and  I  hope  fome 
improvement,  many  things  not  only  in  Fenelon, 
Madame  Guyon,  and  Thomas  a  Kempis,  but 
even  in  Terefa,  and  Gregory  Lopez. 

That  thofe  who  had  been  guilty  of  great  crimes 
fhould  have  recourfe  to  thefe  auflerities,  by  way 
of  atonement  for  their  offences,  is  not  at  all  ex- 
traordinary. For  it  was  eafier  for  a  man  to  fafl, 
to  wear  hair  cloth  next  to  his  ficin,  to  go  on  a  pil- 
grimage barefoot,  or  to  fcourge  himfelf,  &c.  than 
to   govern   his  pafTions,     and    corretl  bad  habits, 

efpeciaj^ 


xycviii  The     P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 

cfpecially  fuch  as  had  their  feat  in  the  mind,  ass 
envy,   malice,    and  revenge. 

We  ihall  think  lefs  unfavourably  than  we 
Should  otherwife  be  apt  to  do  of  the  underflandings 
of  men  who  could  adopt  opinions  fo  extravagantly 
abfurd  as  that  of  tranfubftantiation  and  otlvrs, 
which  are  held  as  the  mofl  important  articles  of 
faith  in  the  Catholic  church,  when  we  accurately 
trace,  and  duly  attend  to,  the  rife  and  progrefs  of 
them,  as  I  have  endeavoured  to  do  in  my  Hijtory 
of  the  corruptions  of  Chrijlianiiy.  And  certainly 
the  ineenuity  that  has  been  fbewn  in  the  defence  of 
fuch  abfurd  do6lrines  is  truly  wonderful,  and  fliews 
that  it  was  not  owing  to  any  deficiency  in  the  na- 
tural powers  of  the  mind  that  led  to  the  adoption, 
of  them. 

It  will  be  happy  if  temporate  and  jufl  rtfle6t-* 
ions  on  the  fubje61:s  of  ecclefiaflical  hiftory  Qiould 
teach  us  that  candour  which  the  events  recorded  in 
it  will  (hew  us  to  have  been  too  often  banifhed  from 
the  Chriftian  world,  and  at  the  fame  time  lead  us 
to  admire  the  plan  of  divine  providence  in  con- 
dufling  men  by  due  degrees  from  error  to  truth, 
and  from  vice  to  virtue.  The  view  of  pafl  events 
ought  alfo  to  make  us  thankful  that  we  Mvo.  in  an 
age  in  which  we  fee  the  gradual  diffufion  of  intei- 
letlual  light,  and  a  better  afpe6l  oi  things  in  a 
moral  refpcfl  than  has  ever  appeared  in  the  world 

before; 


The    PREFACE,  xxix 

before.  It  is  a  promife  of  greater  improvement  in 
fucceeding  ages,  and  of  the  fulfilment  of  the  pro- 
phecies which  announce  a  Hate  of  great  and  per- 
manent felicity  m  the  iaUer  days  of  the  world,  when 
nation  JJiall  not  lijt  /word  againji  nation,  -when 
menjliall  ham  war  no  more,  and  when  the  whole 
earth  JImU  bejiill  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord, 

But  the  mod  important  reflcftion  that  the  con- 
templation of  the  dark  ages  fuggefts  to  a  Chriflian 
is,  that  his  religion  has  furvived  all  the  abufes  un- 
der which  it  has  fo  long  laboured.  Had  it  not 
httn  founded  upon  a  rock,  fuch  a  tempeft  would 
have  certainly  overthrown  it ;  and  the  revival  of 
literature,  and  the  prefent  age  of  rigorous  inquiry, 
xvould  have  been  the  utter  extindion  of  it.  No 
other  religion  ever  had,  or  could  have  fupported, 
fuch  a  trial ;  but  to  rational  Chriftianity  it  has 
only  been  a  furnace  that  has  burned  away  its  drofs, 
and  exhibited  it  in  a  purer  ftate  than  before.  Af- 
ter this  its  friends  cannot  have  any  thing  to  fear 
for  it. 

Some  unflable  minds  have,  no  doubt,  been 
fliaken,  and  many  of  thofe  whq  never  knew,  or 
felt,  its  value  have  rejefted  it ;  but  tho'  there  have 
been  among  them  fome  men  of  great  ability,  and 
fcience^  and  not  deftitute  of  many  good  qualities, 
the  generality  of  unbelievers  are  evidently  profli- 
gate, perfons  to  whom  the  maxims  of  the  gofpel 

muil 


Stxx^  The     P  It  i:  F  A  C  E. 

imufl  be  ungrateful ;  and  few,  if  any,  of  the  liiord 
learned  among  them  appear  to  have  given  fufficient 
attention  to  the  fubjecl,  or  to  have  been  pofFeffed 
of  that  kind  of  hterature  that  is  pecuharly  n  quifite 
for  the  inveftigation.  In  others  of  them  felt  con- 
ceit, an  d  a  wifh  to  be  thought  free  from  vulgaf 
prejudices,  have  evidently  given  them  a  bias  of 
the  force  of  which  they  were  not  themfelves  aware. 
Thro'  the  whole  of  this  part  of  the  hiftory,  aS 
well  as  the  former,  I  have  had  a  view  to  the  in- 
ftruftion  of  young  perfons,  by  giving  them  an 
idea  of  the  great  value  of  Chriftianity,  fhewing  its 
influence  on  the  minds  of  thofe  who  have  received 
it,  and  how  nobly  it  has  led  them  to  aft,  and  think  j 
raifing  them  above  the  world,  and  all  the  hotiours 
and  emoluments  of  it ;  efpecially  how  for  the  great 
hope  that  it  Jet  htfore  them  they  chearfully  fub- 
mitted  to  bear  thelofsofall  things,  and  made  light 
of  the  pains  of  death  in  every  mode  of  torture. 
With  this  view  I  then  dwelt  more  lirgely  on  the 

m 

hiftory  of  martyrdoms  than  Moiheim,  and  others 
whofe  hiftories  are,  like  this,  profelTedly  only  genc^ 
ral.  The  fame  view  has  led  me  to  be  as  particu- 
lar with  refpeft  to  the  perfecution  of  the  reformers 
from  popery  in  all  ages  ;  and  the  examples  of 
Chriftian  fortitude  which  they  exhibited  are  no  lefs 
flriking  aad  inftruftive  than  thofe  of  the  primitive 
Chriflians   in   the  times  of  hcathenifm.     Here  I 

will 


The    P  R  E  F  A  C  E.  xxxi 

will  take  the  liberty  to  recommend  to  my  readers 
my  edition  of  tht  fufferings  ojM-y.  MarolUs  and  Lc 
Fevre,  at  the  revocation  of  the  edift  of  Nantes  in 
France,  as  farnifhing  one  of  the  nioft  remarkable 
and  interefling  hiftories  of  the  kind. 

N  B.  This  Preface  I  wrote  after  the  printing  of 
the  fiift  of  thefe  additional  volumes.  I  do  not  fup- 
pofe  that  I  ftiall  have  occafion  to  add  any  thing 
further  to  the  next  volume,  but  I  probably  fhall 
to  the  laft,  as  the  peculiar  ftate  of  things  at  that 
time  may  require  it. 

Northumberland^  July  3,   1802, 


The  titles  of  such  books  as  are  quoted 
by  the  names  only  of  the  writers, 

Giannone's  Hiftory  of  Naples,    tranffated   hy 
James  Ogylvie,  2  Vols,  folio.  1729. 

Bingham's  Antiquities  of  the  Chriftian  Church, 
hi  his  Works,  2  Vols,  folio.    1726. 

Brandt's    Hiftory   of  the  Reformation  in   the 
Low  Countries,  in  Englifh,  4  Vols,  folio.  1720. 

Robinfon's  Ecclefiaflical  Refearches,  410.  1792. 

Sueur's    Hiftoire  de  I'Eglife   et  de  I'Empire, 
7  Vols.  4to,  Amllerdam.  1730. 

Do.  la  Continuation  par  B.  Pi61et.  3  Vols. 

4to,  Amfterdam,  1782.  Len- 


xxxii  The     PREFACE. 

Lenfant's  Hiftoire  du  Concile  de  Fife,  2  Vols, 
4to,  Amftcrdam.  1724. 

du  Concile  de    Conflance,  1  Vols,  ^to, 

Amfterdam.  1727. 

De  la  guerre  des  Huflites,  et  du  Concile 

de  Bafle,  2  Vols.  410,  Amflerdam.  1731. 

Mofheim's  Eccleliallical  Hiflory  by  Maclaine, 

5  Vols.  8vo.  1774. 

Laval's  Hiftory  of  the  reformation  in  France, 

6  Vols.  8vo.  1737. 

Crantz's  Hiftory  of  the  Bohemian  brethren, 
hy  B.  La  Trobe,  8vo.  1780. 

Beaufobre's  Hiftoire  de  la  Roformation  &c, 
^  Vols.  8vo.  Berlin.  1785. 

Neal's  Hiftory  of  the  Puritans,  by  Dr.Toulmin, 
5  Vols.  8vo.  1793. 

Fleury's  Hiftoire  EccleCaftique,  avec  la  Con- 
tinuation,  33  Vols.  i2mo.  BrulTels.  1723. 

Bafnage's  Hiftoire  des  Juifs,  15  Vols.  i2m9. 
La  Haye.  1716- 

Williams's  Hiftory  of  Church  muftc,  prefixed 
to  his  Pfalmody. 

Burnet's  Hiftory  of  the  Reformation  of  the 
Church  of  England,  abridged,  3  Vols.  i2mo.  1728. 


Th€ 


The     CONTENTS 


OF       THIS 

V  O  L  U  M  E. 


PERIOD     XIV. 

±   ROM  the  Fall  of  the  Weftern  empire  m 
A,  D.    475,    to  the  Rife  of  Mahometa- 

nifm   in  a.    d.  622.  -  i 

Sedion   I.      The  Hiftory    of  Eutychianifm   in 

this  Period,  -  -  ibid, 

St6\.   II.      Of  the  Controverfy   relating  to  the 

three   Chapters,  -  -  26 

St£t.   III.      The  Hijlory  of  Arianifm   in  this 

Period,  -  -  ^2 

SeQ:.   IV.     The  Hijlory  of  the  Monks  in   this 

Period,  -  -  54 

Sea.   V.     Of  the  fate   of  Heathenifm,    Ju- 

daifm,  and   various   St^s  of  Chrifliam  in 

this   Period^  -  -  ^2 

Sea.   VI.     Of  the  Prop-efs    of  Chnfianity 

in  this  Period^  -  -  8r 

Se6l.  VII.      The   Hifory  cf  Pcrfecution    in 

this   Period,  .  -  -  86 

c  Sea, 


xx%iv  The    CONTENTS. 

Se6l.  VIII.  Of  the  Jlate  of  Supcrjliticn  in 
thii  Period,  -  -  88 

Seft.  IX.  Of  the  Povjer  of  the  Popes  in 
this  Period,  -  '97 

SeS.  X.  Some  Particulars  relating  to  the 
Clergy,  Churches,  i3c.  m  this  Period, 
cud  other  Articles  oj a  mijctllaneous  Nature,   109 

PERIOD     XV. 

From  the  rife  of  Mahometanifm  in  a.  d. 
608  to  the  Eftablifhment  of  the  AVeftern 
emph-e  under  Charlemagne  in  a.  d.  800,    119 

Seft.  I.  Oj  the  controverjy  occaJiGned,  by  the 
Monothelites,  -  -  ibid. 

Sea.  II.  OJ  the  Rife  and  Progrefs  of  Ma- 
hometanifm, -  -  141 

Seel.   III.      Of  the  Controverfy  relating  to  the 

WorJJiip  of  Images,  -  149 

Se6l.  IV.  Of  the  Controverfy  occafioned  by 
the  Opinion  of  E  lip  and  of  Toledo,  and  Felix 
of  Urgela,  concerning  the  Senfe  in  which 
Chrijt  IS  the  Son  of  God,  -  167 

Se6i:.  V.  Of  the  Progrefs  cf  Chrifianiiy, 
and  the  ftaie  of  Heathens,  Jews,  and 
Sectaries,   m  thts  Period,  -  173 

Sect.    VI       Of  the  Power  of  the  Popes,     and 

of  [he  Bijlhp-.  in  this  Period,  -  184 

§e6t.^\'II.     Oj  the  \h>vl<:,  ••-  rii^  Period,         197 

s«a. 


The    C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S.  xxxvi 

Sea.   VTII.      0/  th€  difordcrly  State  of  this 

Period,  -  -  207 

Se6l.  IX.     Mifcclianeous  Articles,         -  a  14 

PERIOD     XVI. 

From  the  Reeflablifhment  of  the  Weftern 
empire  in  a.  n.  800  to  the  raifing  of 
Otho  to  the  Imperial  Throne  a.  d.  036.  224 

Se6r.  I.  0/the  Inter cmrje  het'Meen  the  Greek 
and  Latin  Churches  on  the  SubjeB  of  the 
Patriarch  Phot  ins,  which  led  to  their  final 
Separation  from  each  other,  -  ibid. 

Se6l.   II.      The  Sequel  of  the  Hifory  f  Image- 

xjuorfJiip,  -  -  246 

Se6l.   III.      Of  the  Coniroverfy   occafioned  by 

Gotefchalchus  concerning  Predeflination,        25S 

Sc6i;.   IV.     Of  the  Propagation  of  Chriflian- 

ity  in  this  Period,  -  264 

^ecl.  V.  Of  the  State  oj  the  Jews  and  ChHfi- 
ian  SeBaries,  and  of  the  Rife  of  peculiar 
Opinions,  within  this  Period,  -  260 

Ssa.  VI.     Of  the  State  of  the  Clergy  in  this 

Period,  -  -  277 

Sea.  VII.     Of  the  Popes  in  this  Period,  294 

Sea.  VIII.     Of  the  Monks  in  this  Period,       310 

Sea.   IX.     Of  the  Superflitiom  of  this  Period,  31 S 

Sea.  X.  Of  the  dif orderly  State  of  this  Pe- 
riod, -  -  323 

§ca.  XI.     Mifcellaneoiis  Articles,         -  330 

?ERIPI3 


xxxi-i  The    C  O  N  T  E  \  T  S. 

PERIOD     XVII. 

From  the  Acceffion  of  OJio  in  a.  d.  936 
to  the  Conquell  of  Jerufalem  by  the 
Ciufaders  in  a.  d.  1099.  -  337 

Se£l.  I.  Of  the  State  cf  the  Vapacy  in  this 
Period,  -  -  ibid, 

I§e£l.   II.     Various  Injlances  of  the   claims  of 
the  Popes  in  this  Period  to  Ecclefafiical  and 
Civil   Power,    and  of  the    Oppofition   that      -, 
-wasfometimes  made  to  them,  -  364 

^e£l.  III.  Of  the  Char  acler  of  the  Clergy  in 
this  Period,  -  -  375 

^eft.   IV.     Of  the  Monks  in  (his  Period,  402 

Sea.  V.  OftheProgrefsofChriftianity,and 
of  the  State  of  the  ^cws  and  Chrifian 
SeBaries  in  this  Period,  -     -  417 

Sect.  VI.     of    the    Intercourfe   beUoeen   the 

Greek  and  Latin  Churches  in  this  Period.     446 

Sea.   VII.      The  Hifiory  of  the  firfl  Crvjade,    446 

Sea.  VIII.  Articles  relating  to  the  public 
C:ffic€S,  and  Difcipline,  -  460 

Sea.  IX.     Mifccllanecus  Articles,         -  468 


tut 


RT^IBHWTWBBtWi 


THE 

HISTORY 

OT     THE 

CHRISTIAN      CHURCH. 


PERIOD    XIV. 


IROM  THE  FALL  OF  THE  WESTERN  EMPIRE 

tN  A.  D.  475,  TO  THE  RISE  OF  M  A- 

HOMETANISM     IN     A.    D.  622, 


SECTION  I. 

The  Hijlory  of  Eutychianifm  in  this  Period. 


N 


OTHING  can  well  be  more 
uninterefting,  or  difgufling.  to  an  intelligent  Chris- 
tian at  this  day  than  the  hiflories  of  the  controverfies 
that  were  in  this,  and  the  following  periods,  car- 
ried  on  in  the  Eaft,  on  account  of  the  extreme  ab- 
furdity,  and  infignificance  of  the  opinions  con- 
VoL.  III.  A  tend€(i 


^  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV.^ 

tended  for,  and  the  violence  with  which  the  con- 
teils  were  conducted,  the  emperors  always  inter- 
fering in  the  difputes  of  the  theologians.,  It  is  not, 
however,  utipleafant,  or  uninflrutlive,  to  fee  fhat 
mere  authority  was  often  unable  to  contend  with 
opinion  when  it  was  generally  prevalent.  The 
throne  itfeif  was  frequently  hazarded,  and  fome- 
times  lofty  in  the  conteft. 

A  detail  of  even  the  leading  fafts  in  the  courfe 
of  this  hiftory  is  exceedingly  tedious,  but  as  with- 
out this  no  j Lift  idea  can  be  formed  of  tlie  real 
Hate  of  things  in  thofe  times,  the  recital  is  abfo- 
lutely  neceffary ;  but  I  Ihall  make  it  as  brief  as 
diftin6lnefs  will  allow.  Judging  by  myfelf,  I 
conclude  that  no  perfon  can  long  retain  in  me- 
mory the  chain  of  the  events  that  I  fhail  lay  be- 
fore my  readers,  but  a  general  impreftion  will  re- 
main of  their  nature,  and  conjeqiiences ;  and  this  is, 
in  fa6l,  all  that  is  of  much  real  ufe,  not  only  in 
ecclefiaftical,  but  even  in  civil  hiftory. 

We  have  feen  many  examples  of  the  little 
power  of  mere  authority,  either  that  of  emperors, 
or  of  ecclefiaftical  coancils,  to  fettle  articles  of 
faith,  when  the  general  acceptance  of  them  Was- 
not  favoured  by  particular  circumftances.  In  this 
period  we  have  another,  as  remarkable  as 'any  of 
the  precedmg,  viz.  in  what  remains  to  be  related 
Ol  the  hiftory    of  Eutychianijm,    alter  the  folemn- 

cou-^ 


sic.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

condemnation  of  it  in  the  general  council  of  Chal» 
cedfon.      It  ivas  then  determined    that  there  ar^ 
**  two   natures  in  Chrift,     united  in  one  perfon  ;" 
whereas  the  Eutychians  held  that   the  human  na- 
ture  is  fo  abforbed  in  the  divane,     that  he  canAofi 
be  faid  to  have  more  than  one  natwe.     It  was  only 
by  the  authority  of  the  emperor  Marcian  that  this 
do8rine   was   condemned   in   that  council ;     and' 
when  other  emperors   favoured  it,    we  find  it,  or 
fome    modification  of  it,     again  triumphant.     So 
deeply  was  it  looted  in  the  minds  of  rhan'y  people, 
efpecially  in  Egypt,  that  neither  the  imperial  nor 
the  papal  authority  could  entirely  fupprefs  it.   Ac- 
cording to  cuflom  alfo,    too  prevalent  in  all  ages' 
where  men  intcreft  themfelvcs  in  any  thing,     the 
contefl  on  this    fubjeft   was    often   marked   with 
fhocking  cruelties,  of  which  it  is  faying  very  little' 
to  pronounce  that  they  were  unworthy  of  any  that 
bore  the  name  of  Chriilians. 

Aftsr  the  death  of  Marcian,  and  tlie  acceffiorf 
ef  Leo,  fymptoms  of  a  ftrong  attachment  to  the 
principles  of  Eutyches  appeared  in  Egypt.  Ti- 
mothy furnamed  j£lurus,  or  the  Cat,  a  prieft  who 
had  feparated  fiom  the  Catholics  after  the  council 
of  Chalcedon,  took  violent  pofTeffion  of  the  great 
church  at  Alexandria,    and  got  himfelf  ordained 

A  2  biftiop. 


4  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XIV. 

bifhop,     when  the  Catholic  bifhop  *    Proterius 
being  obliged  to  hide  himfelf,    fled  into  the  Bap- 
tiflery.      Thither  he   was  purfued,    and  being  ap- 
prehended, was  put  to  death  with  great  marks  of 
cruelty. 

On  this   Timothy  openly   anathematized  the 
council  of  Chalcedon,  pope  Leo,    and  all  the  Ca- 
tholic bifhops.       On  the  other  hand  the  pope  was 
not  backward  to  exert  himfelf  in  defence  of  the 
council ;     and   writing  to  the  emperor,    and  the 
bifhops  in  the  Eaft,  heearncfhly  exhorted  them  to 
fupport  him.     The  orthodox  clergy  of  Alexandria 
likewife  applied  to  the  emperor,    and  the  friends 
of  Timothy  did  the  fame.     In  confcquencc  of  this, 
the  emperor  appointed  Anatoli  us  bifhop  of  Con- 
ftantinople  to  affemble  his   clergy,    and  give  his 
opinion;    which  was,    that  the   ordination  of  Ti- 
mothy was  null,  and  that  the  council  of  Chalce- 
don ought  to  be   lupported.       Not  fatisfied  with 
this,   Leo  dcfired  all  the  greater  bifhops  to  affemble 
their  fufFragans  which  they  did,  to  the  number  of 

'  liKty. 

*  In  order  to  procure  the  depontion  of  Proterius, 
he  is  faid  to  have  gone  in  the  night  to  the  cells  of  the 
rnonlzs,  calHngupon  each  of  them  by  name  ;  and  when 
he  -vvas  afkcd  who  he  was,  he  anlwered  that  he  was  an 
angel,  fcnt  to  warn  them  not  to  communicate  with 
Proterius,  but  to  chufe  ^lurus  for  their  bilhop.  Theo- 
tforiis  Lector.   Lib.  1.  C.  1. 


«F.c.  I.     TIIK  CHRISTIAN  CllUUCil.  5? 

fixty.  He  likcvvifc  conlultcd  three  famous  faints 
of  that  age,  the  principal  of  whom  was  Simeon 
Stylites,  mentioned  before,  as  having  lived  many 
years  on  a  pillar,  expofcd  to  all  the  inclemencies 
of  the  weather.  All  the  anfwers  were  in  favoui* 
of  the  council,  and  againfl  tlie  ordination  of  Ti- 
mothy. In  confequcncc  of  this,  T  imotliy  wag 
banifhcd,  and  another  pcrfon  of  the  fame  name, 
but  furnamed  Solojaciohb,  was  fubllituLed  in  his 
place. 

At  Antioch,  where  llie  principles  of  Eutychej 
had  not  taken  fuch  deep  root,  Peter  Fullo  who 
had  diflingiiifhed  liirnfelf  by  adding  tothe  Trifagi- 
on  the  phrafe,  who  was  cruci/icd  for  Ui(ihuH  afcri- 
bing  real  paflion  to  one  of  the  pcrfons  in  the  trin- 
ity) and  who  rcjedlcd  llie  council  of  Chalcedon,  di- 
vided the  people  on  the  fubjefl  ;  and  having  infi- 
nuated  himfelf  into  the  good  graces  of  Z-cno,  iht 
Emperor's  Ton  in  law,  he  gave  the  bifhop  Marty- 
rius  fo  much  diOurbance,  by  .icctjfing  him  of  Ncf- 
torianifm,  that  hcrefigncd  the  bifhopric,  and  this 
Peter  was  chofen  in  his  place.  The  c]cfX'um,  how- 
ever, being  irregular,  Leo  lent  him  into  banifli- 
mcnt,  and  one  Julian  was  ordained  his  fucceflbr. 

Zeno  abandoning  the  empire,  was  fuccecdcd 
by  Pjafiiifcus  brother  of  Verina,  t)jc  widow  of  llic 
emperor  Leo,  and  hii  wife  Zcnodia  having  enga- 
ged hiin  to  take  part  with  the  Kutychians,  he  rc- 

A   3  Grilled      • 


p  THE  HISTORY  O  F        fzn,  XIV. 

V. 

palled  Timothy  >Elurus  to  the  fee  of  Alexandria, 
^fter  having  been  exiled  eighteen  years,  his  ri^'al 
retiring  to  a  monaflery.  P.  Fullo  alfo  made  his 
i^ppearance,  and  returned  to  Antioch,  his  rival  dy- 
ing of  grief ;  and  all  the  enemies  of  the  council  of 
Chalcedon,  being  now  under  no  reftraint,  freely 
cenfured  its  decrees,  ^t  the  infligation  of  Fullo 
the  emperor  condemned  the  council,  all  the  fa- 
vourers of  it,  and  the  letter  of  pope  Leo.  At  the 
fame  time  he  condemned  all  thofe  who  did  no^ 
acknowledge  that  thefon'of  God  was  truly  made 
^lan.  About  a  hundred  bifhops  joined  in  thi^ 
condemnation.  ■     , 

This  con6u6l  of  the  emperor  was  by  no  means 
univerfally  approved,  and  he  had  a  powerful  op- 
'ponent  at  Conflantinople  itlelf,  in  Acacius  the 
bifhop  of  that  fee.  He,  being  joined  in  his  oppo- 
fition  by  D.  Stylites,  the  emperor  was  obliged  tQ 
fly  from  the  city.  But  T.  ^lurus,  after  his  re- 
turn to  Alexandria,  having  called  a  council  at 
Ephefus,  the  bifhops  alTembled  there  exhorted 
tlie  emperor  to  keep  firm  to  his  purpofe.  Tiio* 
^lurus  condemned  the  council  ot  C  haicedon,  he 
rejected  the  do£lrine  of  Eutyches,  maintaining 
that  the  flefh  of  the  incarnate  word  was  confub- 
ilantial  with  ours. 

Bafilifcus,    terrified  at  the  oppofition  he  mej; 

withy  and  at  the  leport  of  the  return  of  Zcno, 

^ '   ' '  '  made 


.«£c.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  f 

made  a  public  retraQation  of  his  decree  againft  the 
cauncil  of  Chalcedon  ;     but  it  did  not  avail  him. 

• 

Zeno  returned,  and  Bafilifcus  being  driven  into 
banifhment  to  Cappadocia,  was  ftarved  to  death. 
Zeno  depofed  Fullo,  and  at  length  banifhed  him 
to  Pontus.  ^lurus  prevented  his  depofition  by- 
death,  which  was  faid  to  have  been  voluntary,  and 
was  fucceeded  by  Solofaciolus,  who  was  faid  to  be 
a  man  of  fo  much  moderation,  that  even  they  who 
could  not  communicate  with  him  could  not  help 
loving  him.  The  friends  of  Fullo  at  Antioch  ap- 
pear to  have  been  numerous,  and  no  lefs  violent. 
For  Stephen,  who  had  fucceeded  him,  was  murder- 
ed by  his  opponents  in  the  church  itfelf,  his  body 
dragged  thro'  the  Ilreets,  and  then  thrown  mto  the 
Orontes. 

Zeno  was  afterwards,  with  the  approbation  of 

Acacius  of  Gonftantinople,  induced  to  favour  the 

eledlion  of  Peter  Mon^us  to  the  fee  of  Alexandria. 
I  .... 

By  the  fame  Acacius,     and   w^ith  a  view  to  unite 

all  parties   in   the  profeffion    at   leafl  of  the  fame 

faith,  he  was  alfo  perfuaded  to  publiib  a  decree  of 

union  called  the  henoticon,  which  P.  Mongus  was 

to  fubfcribe.       It   condemned  al^ke  the    errors  of 

Neftorius  and  Eutyches,    but   without  expreffing 

any  approbation  of  the  council  of  Chalcedon.   This 

edift  was  received  by  all  parties   in  Alexandria; 

But  P.  Mongus  proceeded  farther.       He  anathe- 

A  4  matized 


^  THE  HISTORY  01-        Per.  XIV, 

snatized  the  council  of  Chalcedon,  and  the  letteF 
of  pope  Leo.  He  alfo  took  from  the  diptychs  ^ 
the  names  of  Proterius,  and  T.  Solofaciolus,  and 
inferted  thofe  of  Diofcorus  and  T,  ,Slurus.  He 
«ven  took  np  the  body  of  T.  Solofaciolus,  and 
threw  his  bones  into  a  defer:  place.  But  on  re- 
ceiving letters  from  Acacius,  who  was  alarmed  at 
his  violent  proceedings,  he  denied  that  he  had 
done  fo.  He  alfo  wrote  to  Pope  Simplicius,  to 
afTure  him  that  he  approved  of  the  council  of  Chal- 
cedon. 

This  inconfiflent  condu61:  led  many  of  th« 
church  of  Alexandria  to  feparate  themfelves  fiora 
him ;  and  having  no  perfon  at  their  head,  they 
were  called  Acep/iali,  tho'  in  reality  they  were  Eu- 
tychians,  or  diflFered  but  little  hom  them.  Other* 
fay  that,  dividing  into  many  parties,  and  having, 
of  courfe,  no  fingle  head,  their  enemies  gave 
them  all  that  denomination.  Sueur  a.  d.  475, 
The  Patriarch,    willing  to  bnng  them  back  to  his 

com- 

*  Diptfchs  were,  as  the  term  imports,  a  twofold 
(Catalogue  prefcrved  in  churches,  and  recited  at  the  com- 
munion fervice,  one  of  bifliops  who  were  living,  and 
the  other  of  thofe  who  were  dead,  refpe(5lcd  by  the 
church,  and  confidered  as  in  communion  v/ith  them, 
Confequently  to  ftrike  the  name  of  any  biihop  out  of 
the  diptychs  was  equivalent  to  the  excoraHiuni eating  o£ 
him.  '      ' 


5ic.  I-     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ^ 

communion,  afterwards  openly  anathematizecl  iLe 
•ouncil  of  Chalcedony  but  it  was  without  cflFe6i. 

The  pope  did  not  fail  to  be  exceedingly  of- 
fended at  the  condu6l  of  both  Acacius  and  the  em- 
peror Zeno  ;   but  he  dying,  his  quarrel  was  taken 
up  hy  his  fucceflbr  Felix,   who  wrote  expoflula- 
tory  letters  to  them  both;   and  two  bifhcps,  whom 
he  fent  with  thefe  letters,   having  been  gained  by 
the  emperor,  and  having  moreover  communicate4 
with  Acacius,    and  acknowledged   P.  Mongus  for 
the  lawful  bifhop  of  Alexandria,  they  were  on  their 
ifeturn  excommunicated,  in  a  council  which  pro- 
pounced  fentence  againfl  P.  Mongus  as  a  heretic. 
Another  expoflulatory   letter  was  alfo  written  by 
the  pope  to  Acacius,  but  without  any  effe6l.   On 
this  another  council  was  held  at  Rome,  a.  i?.484, 
in  which  Acacius  was  folemnly  excommunicated, 
the    fentence  being  figned  by  (ixty  feven  bifhops. 
At  this  time  Odoacer  the  Arian    was  king  of  Ita- 
ly, which  fhews  that  he  allowed  the  Catholics  the 
full  exercife  of  their  religion. 

Acacius  did  not  fulFer  thefe  proceedings  to  pafs 
ivithout  fhewing  his  refentment ;  and  being  fup- 
portcd  by  the  emperor,  he  made  little  account 
of  the  pope's  excommunication.  He  even  left 
his  name  out  of  the  diptychs  of  his  church;  and 
proceeding  farther,  he  depofed  a  great  number  of 
bilhops  who  differed  from  him,     and  among  the 

A  5  i-eft 


%(y  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

reft  Calcndion  bifhop  of  Antioch,  tho'  he  had 
been  ordained  by  himfelf.  becaufe  he  continued  to 
liold  communion  with  pope  Felix,  and  John  Ta- 
laia  the  depofed  biihop  of  Alexandria,  and  in  th» 
place  of  Calendion  fucceeded  P.  Fullo,  who  had 
been  frequently  condemned  by  Acacius  himfelf. 

P.  Fullo  followed  the  example  of  Acacius,  and 
banillied  many  bifhops  in  his  diocefe,  and  among 
thefti  Cyrus  of  Hierapolis,  and  put  in  his  place 
Xenias,  who  is  faid  to  have  been  the  firft  who  de- 
clared again  ft  the  ufe  of  pi£lures  and  images. 
Angels  he  faid  were  incorporeal,  and  therefor^ 
could  not  be  drawn  in  a  human  form  ;  that  to  ho- 
nour the  images  of  Chrift  was  not  to  honour  him, 
but  that  he  was  to  be  honoured  in  fpirit  and  in 
truth ;  that  to  draw  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  forni 
cf  a  dove,  which  he  only  affumedat  one  particular 
time,  was  a  childilh  imagination.  Accordingly, 
he  eiFaced  many  images  of  angels,  and  hid  thof« 
of  Jefus  Chrift  in  a  feparate  place.   Fleuiy.  Vol.  jr. 

P-  34- 

P.  Mongus  alfo  refented  the  condu8;  of  the 
pope.  He  even  anathematized  the  letter  of  Pope 
Leo,  and  the  council  of  Chalcedon,  and  all  thofe 
who  received  the  writings  of  Diofcorus  and  T, 
iEluruj.  Mapy  of  the  monks  he  engaged  to  join 
bim,  and  thofe  whom  he  cou'd  not  perfuade  he 
axpelled  trom  their  mo/iafteries,  Zeno,  how- 
ever, 


5?c.L     THE  CHUISTIAN  CHURCH.  U 

pver,  being  informed  of  this  proceeding,  and  of- 
fended at  the  difturbance  which  it  occalioiied, 
caufed  th^  monks  to  be  rePtored. 

On  the  death  of  Acacius,  a.  d.  489,  the  pope 
would  not  acknowledge  his  fuccciTor  Flavita,  un- 
lefs  he  would  reje£l  the  name^  of  Acacius  and  P. 
Mongus ;  and  oji  the  deajfh  of  flavita,  he  would 
not  communicate  with  his  fuccefTor  Euphem-us, 
Tbecaufe  he  would  not  erafe  from  the  diptychs  the 
names  of  Acacius  and  Flavitg. 

Anaftaiius,  who  fucceeded  Zeno  in  a.  D.^or, 
was  fufpefted  of  herefy  from  the  beginning  of  his 
reign ;  fo  that  the  patriarch  Euphemius  objecled 
to  his  coronation,  till  he  gave  him  a  confefTion  of 
his  faith  in  writing,  by  which  he  acknowledged  the 
council  of  Chalcedon.  Elowever,  he  allowed  in- 
tire  liberty  of  confcience  ;  in  confequence  of  which 
fome  bifliops  in  the  Eafl  received  this  council, 
and  others  reje^led  it ;  but  he  baniihed  tliofe  who  j 
changed  from  one  fide  to  the  other. 

In  A.  D.  508  the  emperor  Anaftadus,  excited 
]by  Xenias,  would  oblige  Flavian  of  Anrioch  to 
Jign  the  henoticon  of  Zeno.  On  this  occafioa 
Flavian  aifembled  a  council  of  his  bifhops,  and 
publifhed  a  large  fynodical  letter,  in  which  he  ex- 
prelled  his  receiving  the  three  councils  of  Nice, 
Conftantinople,  and  Ephefus,  but  made  no  msn- 
iion  of  that   of  Phalcedon,      He  moreover  con- 

demued 


IJ  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XIV. 

demned  the  writings  of  Diodorus  of  Tarfus  and 
Theodore  of  Mopfueftia,  whofe  fentiments  were 
thought  to  have  been  too  favourable  to  Neftorian- 
ifm.  In  this  John  bifliop  of  Alexandria  joined 
him.  To  give  the  ernperor  all  the  fatisfaflion  tha^ 
he  could,  -he  farther  informed  him,  that  he  re- 
ceived the  henoticon  of  Zeno.  All  this,  however, 
not  fatisfying  Xenias,  by  whofe  opinions  the  em- 
peror feems  to  have  been  governed,  he  feparated 
from  the  communion  of  Flavian  and  Macedonius 
of  Conftantinople.  This  patriarch  refilled  all  the 
attempts  of  the  emperor  to  make  him  abjure  the 
council  of  Chalcedon.  He  even  anathematized 
thofe  who  did  not  receive  it,  and  in  this  he  wa§ 
joined  by  the  people  of  Conllantinople. 

In  tliefe  circumflances,  the  emperor,  in  order 
to  carry  his  point,  encouraged  a  number  of  monks, 
headed  by  Severus,  to  come  to  Conllantinople. 
But  thefe  finging  the  Trifagion  with  the  addition 
of  the  claufe  uuho  was  crucijied  for  us,  a  tumult 
was  excited  ;  in  confequence  of  which  the  emperor 
was  oblig'd  to  (hut  himfelfup  in  his  palace,  and 
even  to  make  fome  feeming  fubmiffion  to  the  pa- 
triarch. The  emperor,  however,  not  forgiving 
him,  made  an  attempt  to  get  him  condemned  in  a 
council ;  but  that  meafure  not  fucceeding,  he  had 
him  feizcd  by  force,  on  the  pretence  of  his  being 
guilty  of  an  unnatural  crime,    and  alfo  of  herefy, 

and 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  is 

and  fent  him  to  Chalcedon,  in  order  to  his  being, 
fent  to  Paphlagonia,  and  procured  one  Timothy 
to  be  appointed  in  his  place. 

With  a  view  to  get  the  council  of  Chalcedon 
condemned,  the. emperor  had  one  called  at  Sidon 
in  A.  D.  511 ;  but  this  meafure  not  appearing  like- 
ly to  anfwer  his  purpofe,  the  bifhops  feparated 
by  his  own  dire6lion. 

The  eaftern  church  being  torn  hy  thefe  fchifms, 
many  of  the  bifhops  applied  to  pope  Symmachus, 
intreating  hfm  to  receive  them  into  his  communion, 
tho'  they  could  not  join  him  in  his  anathema  of 
Acacius.  But  the  pope  declared  himfelf  not  fa- 
tisfied  without  the  exprefs  condemnation  of  all 
thofe  whom  the  apoftolic  fee  (as,  excluhve  of  all 
others,  he  denominated  that  of  Rome)  had  con- 
demned. 

In  A.  D.  5-11  the  emperor  fhewed  his  determi- 
nation to  favour  the  Eutychian  fentiments,  by  en- 
couraging the  fmging  of  the  trifagion  with  the 
cl^ufe  -who  was  crucified  for  us ;  but  the  people 
oppofing  it,  a  tumult  arofe  in  the  church,  and 
feveral  lives  were  loft.  The  difturbance  extend- 
ing thro'  the  city,  houfes  were  burned,  and  more 
lives  loft.  The  people  were  fo  much  inflamed, 
that  they  even  called  for  another  emperor,  fo  that 
he  thought  proper  to  conceal  himfcif.     But  after* 

wards 


U  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XXVl 

wards  making  his  appearance,  and  yielding  to  theif 
demands,  quiet  was  reftorcd. 

The  emperor,  pro\oked  at  the  ill  fuccefs  of 
the  council  of  Sidon,  which  he  attributed  to  Fla- 
Tian  of  Antioch,  and  Elias  of  Jerufalem,  determin- 
ed to  banifh  them  both.  But  Xcnias  and  his 
monks  coming  to  Antioch  and  endeavouring  to 
force  him  to  anathemtize  the  council  of  Chalce- 
don,  the  people  rofe  upon  them,  and  killed  a  great 
number.  Other  monks  coming,  and  taking  his 
part,  more  mifchiefwas  done;  and  this  ferved  as  a 
pretence  for  banifhing  the  bifhop  to  Petra,  and  the 
monk  Severus  was  put  in  his  place,  a.  d.  561. 
Severus  was  a  pure  Eut)'chian,  not  even  receiving 
the  henoticon  of  Zeno.  In  hisfynodical  letters  he 
even  anathematized  the  council  of  Chalcedon,  but 
they  were  not  received  by  many  of  the  churches 
of  his  diocefe. 

In  the  mean  time  count  Vitaliati,  or/e  of  the 
imperial  generals,  availing  himfelf  of  the  unpopu- 
larity of  the  emperor,  on  account  of  his  religious 
opinions,  put  himfelf  at  the  head  of  the  difafFefted 
party,  and  made  great  progrefs  in  his  revolt,  con- 
quering all  Thrace  and  Myfia,  and  advancing  to 
the  very  gate  of  Conftantinople  ;  when  the  emper- 
or, feeing  his  affairs  grovvring  defperate,  yielded  to 
tlie  demands  of  Vitalian,  which  were  to  recall 
Macedonius  and  Flavian,  and  alfo   to  convoke  a 

gcnca 


^ic.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  tS 

general  council,  at  which  the  pope  might  be  pre- 
fent,  in  order  to  examine  into  the  injuries  done  to 
the  Catholics. 

In  confcquence  of  this,  the  emperor  wrote  to 
pope  Hormifdas,  a.  d.  515,  excufmg  his  former 
condu6l  in  not  writing  to  him  before,  and  requeft- 
ing  him  to  appeafe  the  infurreftion  which  had  a- 
rifen  in  Scythia.  Vitalian  alfo,  and  Theodoric 
king  of  the  Goths  in  Italy  wrote  to  the  pope  at 
the  fame  time.  On  this  he  fent  a  deputation  to 
Gonftantinople,  of  which  Ennodius  was  the  chief. 
But  he  infifting  upon  the  excommunication  of  Ac- 
cacius  and  all  his  followers,  arid  the  emperor  not 
acceding  to  this,  the  pope  fent  a  fecond  embaffy, 
tho'  with  no  better  fuccefs. 

Elias  bifhop  of  Jerufalem  refufing  to  commu* 
nicate  with  Severus  of  Antioch,  the  emperor  ba- 
nifhed  him,  arid  put  John  the  fon  of  Marcion  iti 
his  place.  Buf  ht  alfo,  by  the  perfuafion  of  Sa- 
bas  (a  monk  of  great  celebrity  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Jerufalem,  and  of  great  zeal  for  the  ortho- 
doxy of  thofe  times)  and  others,  rcfufmg  to  com^ 
municate  with  Severus,  and  receiving  the  council" 
ef  Chalcedon,  was  by  the  emperor's  orders  put 
into  prifon.  But,  feeming  to  comply  with  the 
emperor's  demand,  he  was  fet  at  liberty,  and 
then  being  joined  by  the  monks,  a  remonftrancc 
was   fent  to    the  cmperoi  ;  and  Vitalian  at   the 

fanas 


U  YHE  HISTORY  o¥        Per.  XIV. 

the  fame  time,  recommencing  the  war  againft 
him,  he  was  content  to  allow  John  to  continue  in 
his  fee. 

The  patriarch  of  Conftantinople  dying  in  a. 
».  517,  Johnof  Cappadocia  was  chofenin  his  place, 
having  heforc  his  ordination  condemned  the  coun- 
cil ofChalcedon,  tho'the  people  infilled  upon  hi« 
^nathematiling  Severus. 

John  Niceotis  patriarch  of  Alexandria  dying 
in  A.  D.  517,  Diofcorus,  a  younger  nephew  of 
Timothy  ^lurus,  was  chofen  in  his  place.  But 
the  people  rofe  on  the  occafion,  and  having  killed 
a  fon  of  the  governor,  he  put  to  death  as  many  of 
the  murderers  as  he  could  apprehend,  and  the  pa- 
triarch himfelf  thought  proper  to  go  to  Con- 
ftantinople to  appeafe  the  emperor.  This  was 
not  the  only  mifchief  occafioned  by  thefe  unhap- 
py difputes.  In  this  fame  year  the  monks  of  fe- 
cond  Syria  wrote  to  the  pope,  complaining  of 
great  violence  offered  to  them  by  the  connivance 
of  the  emperor,  as  they  were  going  to  the  monaf- 
teryof  St.  Simeon  Styiites,  in  which  three  hundred 
and  fifty  men  were  killed,  and  many  wounded.  The 
pope,  in  anfwer,  only  exhorted  them  to  continue 
firm  in  the  faith. 

A.  D.  51 8  Anaftafius  died,  and  Juflin,  a  mere 
fbldicr  Viho  could  not  even  read,  but  who  was  of 
the  orthodox  faith,  was  chofen  in  his  place.     En- 

cou- 


Std.  X.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH^  if 

couraged  by  this  circumftancc,  the  people  of  Con*, 
flantinople  iniifted  upon  their  patriarch  anathema- 
tizing Severus,  and  with  this  he  thought  proper  to 
comply.     Alfo  a  council  being  called  in  this  city, 
the  fame  was  done  by  all  the  bifhops  affembled  on 
the  occafion.      By  the  acceffion  of  this  orthodox 
emperor,  the  church  of  Conllantinople  was  recon- 
ciled to   that  of  Rome,    after  a  feparation  of  fifty- 
three  years  ;  the  patriarch  having  figned  the  formu- 
lary prefcribed  by  the  pope,    in  which   the  con- 
demnation of  Acacius  and  his  followers  was  a  prin- 
cipal article.      The  common  people  of  Conflanti- 
neple  exprelTed  the  greateft  joy  on  the  occafion. 
But  it  was  not  without   much    difficulty   that  the 
church  of  Antioch  could  be  reconciled  to  the  new 
fyftem,  and  to  the  new  bifhop  that  was  appointed 
on  the  occafion.       Severus,    making  his  efcape  to 
Alexandria,    was  well  received  by   Timothy  the 
patriarch  of  the  place. 

Notwithftanding  all  that  had  paffed  on  the  fu6- 
jeO,  the  legates  of  pope  Hormifdas  in  a.  b.  519 
found  Conftantinople  warmly  agitated  by  a  dif- 
pute  with  the  monk's,  protected  by  count  Vitai- 
lian,  tlio'  oppofed  by  his  rival  Juftinian,  xvho 
fung  the  trifagion  with  their  addition,  implying 
that  one  of  the  trinity  was  crucified,  and.  main- 
tained that  they  did  it  agreeably  to  the  doftrine  of 
the  Fathers,  and  in  oppofition  to  Ncftorius  and 
Vol.  III.  B  Theo- 


^8  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV- 

Theodore  of  Mopfueftia.  The  monks  receiving 
na  fatisfaOiion  in  a  conference  with  the  pope's  le- 
gates at  Conflantinople  went  to  Rome,  but  being 
as  much  diflatisfied  with  their  reception  there,  they 
returned  to  Conflantinople.  Alfo  a  great  number 
©f  the  Eaflern  bifhops  would  not  confent  to  the 
condemnation  of  thofe  who  died  after  Acacius,  No 
threats  or  punifliments  they  declared  fhould  induce 
them  to  flrike  the  names  of  their  bifhops  from  their 
diptychs." 

John  Maxentius,  the  mofl  learned  of  the 
rflonks  who  went  to  Rome,  wrote  on  the  occafion, 
maintaining  that  whoever  did  not  fay  that  one  of 
the  trinity,  not  one  perjon  in  the  trinity  (for  there 
was  artifice,  he  faid,  in  that  form  of  exprellion) 
was  crucified  for  us,  was  a  heretic,  and  a  N  efto- 
rian,  tho*  it  lliould  be  the  pope  himfelf. 

Juflinian,  who  fucceeded  Juflin  in  a.  d.  gizj^, 
like  him,  made  profeflion  of  the  ftri6lefl  ortho- 
dojcy.  Yet  in  the  confeflion  which  he  gave  of  his 
faith  at  the  commencement  of  his  reign,  he  faid 
that  one  of  the  trinity  was  incarnate,  tho'  he  had 
before  blamed  the  monks  of  Scythia  for  ufing  that 
exprefTion. 

In  A,  D.  533  there  arofe  a  fchifm  among  the 
Eutychians,  Severus,  the  exiled  patriarch  of  An- 
tioch,  maintaining  that  the  body  of  Chrifl  was  cor- 
ruptible; fincej  otherwife,  there  could  be  no  real 

fnf.- 


&XC.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH*  IS 

fufFering,  which  is  Manicheifm;  whereas  Julian 
of  Halicarnaffus,  who  had  hkswife  taken  refuge  in 
JEgypt,  maintained  that,  according  to  the  genuine 
iprinciples  of  Eutychianifm,  the  body  of  Chrift . 
was  incorruptible ;  fince,  otherwife  there  would 
be  a  diIlin6tion  between  the  body  of  Chrift^  and 
the  logos,  and  corifequently  two  natures  in  Chrift. 
*'  Why  eJfe,"  faid  he,  "  do  we  reprobate  the  coun- 
cil of  Chalcedon  ?"  Thofe  two  leaders  of  the  op- 
pofite  parties  wrote  againft  each  other*  The  dif- 
cipks  of  Severus  were  by  their  opponents  called 
Corriipticoles,  or  worfhippers  of  what  was  cor- 
ruptible, and  the  other  were  called  Incoi'ruptibk?] 
br  Phantaftajles» 

Timothy,  the  patriarch  of  Alexandria,  dying 
at  this  time,  the  partifans  of  Severus,  the  clergy, 
and  alfo  the  imperial  minifters,  joined  in  the  choice 
of  Theodofius,  a  man  of  letters.  But  the  monks 
and  the  populace  chofe  Gajanus  a  difciple  of  Ju- 
lian. Theodohus,  Ifowever,  having^  the  counte- 
nance  of  the  imperial  party,  Gajanus  was  banifli- 
ed.  Notwithftanding  this,  few  would  communi- 
cate with  Theodolius,  and  many  perfons  being 
killed  in  a  tumult  which  arofe  on  this  occafion,  he 
fled  to  Conftantinople  ;  but  not  promifing  to  re- 
ceive the  council  of  CJialcedon,  he  was  banifhcd 
to  the  diftance  of  fix  miles  from  the  city. 


2 


^he 


90  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XIV, 

The  empeior,  willing  to  reconcile  the  Seven. 
ans  to  the  Catholic  church,  appointed  a  confer- 
ence for  that  purpofe  at  Conftantinople,  in  a.  d. 
532.  On  this  occafion  thefe  Eutychians  madt 
no  difficulty  of  faying  that  Eutyches  himfelfwasa 
heretic,  but  they  difapproved  of  the  council  of 
Chalcedon,  as  having  introduced  a  new  phrafe 
viz.  that  of  two  natures  in  Chrifi  ;  whereas  they 
maintained  that  after  the  union  of  thfe  logos  with' 
the  body  of  Chrifl,  they  made  but  one  nature. 
They  alfo  complained  that  Theodoret  and  I  has 
were  then  received  as  Catholics.  In  the  lall  day 
of  this  conference  the  emperor  himfelf  attended, 
and  after  much  argumentation  brought  over  fome 
of  the  Eutychians,  but  not  all  of  them. 

About  this  time  fome  monks  of  the  monafterjr 
of  Acemites,  and  Hypatian,  archbifliop  of  Ephe- 
fus,  being  fent  by  the  emperor,  met  at  Rome,  to 
confult  the  pope  on  the  propriety  of  two  forms  of 
expreffion  introduced  into  jche  controverfy,  viz. 
whether  thefe  monks  did  right  to  fay  that  "  the 
*  *'  virgin  Mary  was  properly  the  mother  of  God," 
and  that  "  one  of  the  trinity  was  incarnate  ;"  the 
emperor  having  publifhed  an  edi61;  in  which  they 
were  condemned.  Ferrand,  a  deacon  of  the  church 
of  Carthage,  and  a  difciple  of  Fulgentius,  who 
was  then  dead,  being  confulted,  approved  of  the 
cxpr^flion  "  one  of  the  trinity  fufFered,"   provided 

it 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  m 

it  was  properly  explained,  and  it  was   underftood 
ihat  he  fuffered  in  the  JleJJi, 

Fulgentius  himfelf  having  been  cohfulted  on 
the  fubjeft  of  the  incorruptibility  of  the  body  of 
Chrift,  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  during  his  life 
time  it  was  fo  far  corruptible,  as  to  be  fubjefl  to 
the  infirmities  of  othef  men  ;  but  that  it  was  incor- 
ruptible after  his  death  ;  and  alfo  that  durmg  his 
life  he  was  not  fubje6l  to  thofe  paffions  which  dif- 
turb  the  exercife  of  reafon. 

Pope  John,  not  being  able  to  bring  the  monks 
who  had  gone  to  Rome  to  hear  what  he  thought 
to  be  reafon,  excommunicated  them,  as  they  had 
been  before  by  the  patriarch  of  Conftantinople. 
On  this  occafion  the  pope  expreffed  his  approba- 
tion of  the  edi6l  of  the  emperor,  and  he  wrote  to 
the  fenate  of  Rome  to  explain  his  principles  and 
conduct. 

On  the  death  of  Epiphanius  of  Conftantino- 
ple, Anthemus  bifhop  of  Trebifond  was  chofen  iri 
his  place,  and  both  he  and  the  emprefs  Theodora 
were  enemies  of  the  council  of  Chalcedon,  This 
encouraged  the  Acephali  to  come  to  Conftantino- 
ple and  among  them  Severus  late  patriarch  of  An- 
tioch  ;  and  there  they  not  only  held  affemblies  in 
private  houfes,  but  alio  baptized.  Pope  Agapit 
coming  to  Conftantinople  at  this  time,  on  an  em- 
baffy  from  king  Theodoric,   was  fo  much  ofrend- 

B  3  ed 


^5  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV; 

ed  at  this,  that  he  not  only  refufed  to  communi.- 
cate  with  Antbimus,  but  get  him  depofed  ;  when 
be  retired  to  a  place  where  he  was  under  the  pro- 
teftion  of  the  emprefs.  Antbimus  was  fucceeded 
by  Mennas  of  Alexandria,  who  received  the  coun- 
cil o{  Chalcedon.  In  execution  of  the  fentence 
of  the  council  by  whiqh  Anthimus  was  depofed  the 
emperor  forbade  him,  and  alfo  Severus,  Peter  of 
Apamea,  and  Zoara  a  monk  of  Syria  to  refide  in 
Conllantinople,  or  any  confiderable  city.  He  al- 
fo  ordered  the  writings  of  Severus  to  be  burned, 
and  that  whoever  copied  thern  fhould  have  h|S 
thumbs  cut  off» 

Pope  Agapit  dying  at  Conftantinople,  the  em- 
prefs got  Vigilius  to  be  made  pope,  and  Silverius 
who  had  been  chofen  banifhed.  Vigilius,  however, 
only  in  fscret  appeared  to  favour  the  views  of  the 
emprefs ;  as  in  all  his  public  edi6ls  he  was  fuffi- 
oently  Catholic. 

We  now  find  the  council  of  Chalcedon,  being 
favoured  by  the  j^ope,  and  the  emperor,  univer- 
ially  received.  Thcodofius  of  Alexandria,  where 
It  had  long  been  reprobated,  being  banifhed,  Paul, 
who  declared  his  approbation  of  the  council,  was 
chofen  in  his  place  ;  and  Paul  being  depofed  for 
certain  offences,  was  fucceeded  by  Zqilus,  whp 
pjfo  received  the  council. 

Thca- 


Bzc.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  m 

Theodofius,  late  of  Alexandria,  being  at  Con- 
ftantinople,  maintained  that  Chrift  was  not  igno- 
rant of  the  day  of  judgment,  not  even  as  the  f on, 
ufmg  the  language  of  the  Catholics,  tho'  an  Eu- 
tychian.  He  even  wrote  againft  thole  who  held 
the  contrary  opinion,  calling  them,  in  contempt, 
Agnoites,  v»-hich  horn  this  time  became  another 
diftinction  among  the  Eutychians, 

About  this  time  Philoponus  of  Alexandria, 
maintaining  that  there  was  no  difference  between 
the  terms  nature  and  hypoJlaJJs,  was  charged  with 
admitting  three  natures  in  the  trinity  ;  and,  allow- 
ing,  as  they  fay,  the  confequence  he  was  deemed 


Trie  controverfy  about  Eutychianifm  was 
but  little  heard  of  in  the  Weft. '  However,  at  the 
fecond  council  at  Seville  in  a.  d.  619,  there  was 
prefent  a  Syrian  bifhop  of  the  fe6l  of  the  Acephali, 
denying  the  di{\inQ;ion  of  two  natures  in  chrift, 
and  maintaining  that  the  divinity  was  paffibie  ; 
but  v^rith  fome  difficulty  he  was  brought  to  re- 
nounce thofe  offenfive  opinions. 

Notwithftanding  all  that  Juftinian  had  done 
in  favour  of  the  council  of  Chalcedoa,  and  againft 
Eutychianifm,  fuch  hold  had  the  principles  of 
this  fe6l  taken  on  the  minds  of  numbers,  and,  as  it 
fhould  feem,  of  the  more  zealous  Chriftians,  advo- 
cates for  the  higheft  honours  of  Chrift,    that  tow- 

g  ^  arda. 


f^  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV? 

aids  the  end  of  his  reign  he  himfelf  was  much  im- 
prefled  by  them.  The  emprefs  Theodora,  as  well 
ias  Theodore  of  Cappadocia,  was  an  advocate  for 
them  ;  and  in  addition  to  their  influence  which 
was  probably  confiderable,  he  is  faid  to  have  learn- 
ed fomething  of  this  kind  from  fome  Originiftg, 
who,  we  Ihail  find,  became  very  confiderable  at 
this  time.  It  is  certain  that  Juftiman  adopted  the 
opinion  that  the  body  of  Chrifl  was  incoiraptible, 
that  after  it  was  formed  in  the  womb  of  the  virgift 
it  fo  far  partook  of  the  properties  ot  divinity,  as  to 
be  incapable  of  change,  even  with  refpe6l  to  the 
natural  and  innocent  afFe6tions  of  humanity,  as 
thofe  of  hunger  and  thirft;  fo  that  even  before  hi* 
death,  as  well  as  after  his  refurreclion,  he  ate  with- 
out necefllty. 

As  all  the  emperors  wifhed  to  think  for  their 
fubje£ts  as  well  as  for  themfelves,  Juflinian  waj 
pot  fatisfied  without  endeavouring  to  make  his  fen- 
timents  the  ftandard  of  faith  in  the  whole  empire ; 
and  for  this  purpofe  he  had  recourfe  to  the  univer- 
fal  argument  of  fovereign  princes.  He  began  hy 
publilhing  an  edia  on  the  fubjedl,  defigned  to  gain 
the  bifhops  ;  but  it  had  little  effeft.  The  patriarch 
of  Conftantinople,  Eutychius,  was  fo  far  from  fub- 
fcribing  to  this  edia,  that  he  remonftrated  againfl 
it,  mamtaining  that  on  the  emperor's  principles 
the  in^arn^^tion  was  only  imaginary,    and  that  it 

v/as 


Seg.  h     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  §^ 

was  in  no  other  fenfe  true  than  that  the  body  of 
Chrift  was  incapable  of  any  ftain  of  fin,  and  was 
not  corruptible  in  the  grave. 

The  emperor  was  fo  much  provoked  at  this  op- 
pofition,  which,  coming  from  the  patriarch  of  Con- 
ftantinople,  was  likely  to  have  a  great  cfFeft,  that 
Jie  had  him  dragged  by  force  from  his  church,  and 
confined  to  a  monallery.  He  was  afterwards  re- 
moved from  place  to  place,  and  at  lafl:  to  Amafa 
in  Pontus.  John  the  Syrian,  furnamed  Scholafti*- 
cus,  was  made  patriarch  in  his  place. 

This  oppofition  to  the  views  of  the  emperoi* 
^as  not  confined  to  the  patriarch.  Many  other 
bifhops  refufedto  fubfcribe  to  his  edi6l.  Of  thofe 
the  principal  was  Anaftafius  of  Antioch.  The 
emperor  ufed  all  his  endeavours  to  gain  him,  but 
thefe  being  without  effe6t,  he  would  have  been 
banifhed,  like  the  patriarch  of  Conflantinople,  if 
the  emperor  himfeit  had  not  died  before  it  coul4 
take  place. 

Juiiin  II,  the  nephew  of  JuRinian,  who  fuc- 
ceeded  him  in  the  empire,  recalled  all  thofe  exiles, 
except  Eutychius.  This  emperor,  like  his  pre- 
decellbrs,  thought  proper  to  publiQi  a  confeilioa 
of  his  faith,  and  one  by  which  he  hoped  to  unite 
all  parties ;  but  it  was  without  effect,  as  he  only 
propofed  that  all  things  fhould  remain  on  their  an- 

B  5  tient 


%S  THE  HISTORY  OF        Vzn.  XIV. 

ticnt  footing.  Juft  before  the  death  of  Juftin,  and 
the  fucceflion  of  Tiberius,  Eutychius  was  recalled, 
after  paffing  twelve  years  in  a  monaftery  at  Amafa 
in  Pontus,  and  he  entered  Conftantinople  in  tri- 
umph, riding  on  an  afs,  in  imitation  ot  our  Sa^ 
yiour,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  people. 

I  ftiall  conclude  this  fe6lion  with  obferving 
that  from  a  difciple  of  Severus  called  Jacob  Zan- 
aales,  or  Bardai,  a  Syrian  monk,  the  Eutychians 
in  general  came  to  be  called  Jfacchites.  And  thefe 
about  this  time  ufually  called  their  opponent? 
Melchiies,  on  account  of  their  receiving  the  coun- 
cil of  Chalcedon,  impofed  by  royal  authority,  and 
in  this  it  will  have  been  feeij  there  wa»  too  much  of 
truth. 


SECTION  II. 

Of  the  Contromrfy  relating  io  the  three  Chapter's, 


n 


OrWITHSTANDING  the  fup- 
proffion  of  unitarianifm  in  a  variety  of  forms,  wt 
find  it  appearing  again  in  others,  or  other  do6trine^ 
bordering  upon  it.  The  NeHorians  were  but  little 
different  from  unitarians  with  refpefi  to  their 
doftrine  concerning  the  perfon  of  Chrill,  tho*  thejr 
held  a  trinity  in  the  godhead^  and  they  were  treated 


^£C.II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCIL  n 

as  fuch  by  their  adverfaries.  And  whenever  the 
Eutychians,  or  thofe  who  fecretly  favoured  their 
opinions,  prevailed,  every  perfon  was  confidered 
as  heretical,  and  was  charged  with  Neftorianifm, 
who  fcrupled  to  adopt  the  very  higheil  language 
Goncerning  the  perfon  of  Chrift  in  all  its  parts, 
without  excepting  what  related  to  his  humanity. 
Alfo,  in  order  to  revenge  themielves  for  their  dif- 
appointment  in  the  council  of  Chalcedon,  they 
were  eager  to  cenfure  many  of  the  eminent  bifhops 
who  lived  at  the  time  of  that  council,  for  laUi^uao-c 
which  had  paffed  without  any  cenfure  when  it  was 
iifed ;  and  the  circumilances  of  the  times  favourinor 
them,  great  difturbance  was  given  to  the  whole 
Chrifiian  world  on  this  account.  The  bilhops 
who  by  their  writings  were  particularly  obnoxious 
to  the  favourers  of  Eutychianifm  were  Diodoru* 
of  Tarfus,  Theodore  of  Mopfueftia,  Theodoret  of 
Cyrus,  Ibas  of  EdeiTa,  and  Eutherius  of  Tiana^ 
all  then  dead. 

That  fome  of  thefe  perfons  enjoyed  a  high 
degree  of  popularity,  at  lead  in  their  own  churches, 
is  evident  from  the  dillinguifhed  honours  paid  to 
the  memory  of  I'heodoret  by  Sergius  one  of  his 
fuccelTors,  For  in  a,  d.  519  he  carried  his  image 
mounted  on  a  car  into  the  church,  where  it  was 
received  with  finging  of  pfalms.  He  afterwards 
mitituted  a  f&ftival  in  his  honour,    and  that  of 

Diod* 


S8  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

jDiodoms  of  Tarfus,  and  Theodore  of  Mopfueftia. 
And  had  it  not  being  owing  to  private  pique,  thefij 
men  might  have  enjoyed  their  honours  undifturbed, 
and  unenvied,  to  the  lateft  pofterity. 

The  firft  time  that  we  find  the  names  of  any 
of  the  perfons  abovementioned  made  ufe  of  for 
any  invidious  purpofe,  was  by  Xenias,  who  had 
been  made  bifhop  of  Hierapohs,  whofe  fentiments 
were  of  the  Eutychian  cafi.  Being  at  variance 
with  Flavian  bifhop  of  Antioch,  he  accufed  hirn 
jDf  Neftorianifm.  To  ward  off  this  accufation, 
Flavian  did  not  helitate  to  anathematize  Neftorius 
Jiimfelf,  and  his  dottrinc.  But  this  did  not  fatis- 
fy  Xenias,  who  farther  required  him  to  anathe- 
rnatize  alii  thofe  who  had  been  fufpeded  of  holding 
the  fame  principles,  naming  Theodoret,  and  the 
other  perfons  abovementioned. 

This,  however,  was  nothing  more  than  an  al- 
tercation between  thefe  two  bifhops.  The  Chrif- 
tian  world  became  interefted  in  the  quellion  by 
the  artful  management  of  Theodore  of  Caefarea  in 
Cappadocia,  then  in  the  court  of  the  emperor 
Juflinian,  who  like  feveral  of  his  predecefTors,  and 
the  fucceeding  emperors,  bufied  themfelves  more 
about  matters  of  theology  than  affairs  of  flate. 
This  Theodore  was  a  favourer  of  the  fentiments  of 
Origen,  (againft  which  Theodore  of  Mopfueftia 
had  written)  and  one  of  the  Acephali,  and  he  had 

a  dif- 


Sse.  II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  m 

a  difpute  on  thefe  fubje6ls  with  Pelagius,  When 
he  was  fent  from  Rome  on  an  embafTy  to  Conftan-^ 
tinople.  Theodore,  finding  the  emperor  writing 
againft  the  AcephaH,  and  in  defence  of  the  coun* 
eil  of  Chalccdon,  perfuaded  him  that  he  would  ref* 
concile  the  AcephaH  to  the  council  (which  had 
given  oflFence  to  many  by  the  feeming  approba- 
tion of  the  writings  of  Theodore  of  Mopfueftia, 
and  a  letter  of  Ibas  to  Maris  a  Perfian  heretic^ 
which  he  faid  were  evidently  Neftorian)  if  he  would 
procure  the  condemnation  of  thofe  writers,  and  thafc 
hy  this  means,  uniting  the  different  fedls  of  Chrif- 
tians,  he  would  gain  immortal  glory.  The  em- 
peror, not  perceiving  his  fecret  views,  undertook 
-to  do  this,  adding  to  the  two  writers  abovemen- 
tioned  what  Theodoret  wrote  in  anfwer  to  th^ 
twelve  anathemas  of  Cyril  of  Alexandria.  Aband- 
oning, therefore,  his  delign  of  writing  againft  the 
Acephali,  he  compofed  another  work,  in  con- 
demnation of  thofe  three  writings,  ufually  de- 
nominated the  three  chapters.  This  piece  of  the 
emperor's  was  in  the  form  of  an  edifl,  or  letter 
addrefTed  to  all  the  churches,  and  bore  the  title  of 
a  confelfion  of  faith.  In  this  he  anathematized  not 
only  the  three  chapters,  but,  as  was  ufual  in  thofe 
times,  all  ivho  defended  them.     This  was  in  a.  v. 


All 


m  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XIV. 

All  the  bifhops  were  required  to  fubfcribe  to 
this  confeffion  of  faith,  tho'  Mennas  patriarch  of 
Conftantinople  made  fome  difficulty  of  doing  it, 
on  account  of  its  implying  fome  refie£lion  on  the 
council  of  Chalcedon.  Ephreni  of  Antioch  did 
nofe  do  it  till  he  was  threatened  with  expulfion 
from  his  fee.  Peter  of  Jerufalem  alfo  made  his 
objeftions,  but  neverthelefs  complied  with  the  im- 
perial requifition,  and  many  entered  their  protefts 
againft  the  fubfcription.  The  bilhops  who  com- 
plied were  rewarded,  and  they  who  perfifted  in  re- 
fufing  to  do  fo  were  banifhed.  Zoilus  bifhop  of 
Alexandria  complained  afterwards  to  the  pope, 
that  he  alfo  had  been  compelled  to  fubfcribe. 

Thefe  compulfive  meafures  had  lefs  effe6l  in 
the  Weft.  Four  hundred  bifhops  in  Africa  could 
not  by  any  means  be  brought  to  condemn,  as  the^/ 
declared,  perfons  v/ho  were  dead;  efpecially  con- 
sidering that  in  condemning  them  they  might,  in 
effeft,  approve  of  Eutychianifm ;  and  they  re- 
monftrated  on  the  fubjeft  to  the  emperor. 

The  pope,  Vigilius,  was  by  no  means  difpofed 
to  join  with  the  emperor  in  thefe  violent  meafures. 
Being  at  Conftantinople,  he  refufed  for  fome  time 
to  communicate  with  the  patriarch  Mennas,  be- 
caufe  he  had  concurred  in  the  condemnation  of  the 
three  chapters.  He  even  pafled  a  fentence  of  con- 
demnation againft  the  emprefs  and  the  Acephali. 


jJiic.  II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  St 

I. 
At  length,  however,  being  hard  preffed,    he  was 

induced  to  join  in  the  condemnation  of  the  three 

chapters;    but,  as  he  added,    "  without  prejudice 

«  to  the  council  of  Chalcedon,"  and  he  charged  all 

perfons  to  forbear  difcufling  the  fubjeO;  by  fpealo-- 

ing  or  writing. 

This  condua  of  the  p6pe  gave  no  fatisfaftion 
to  either  of  the  two  parties,  and  gave  great  offence 
to  the  advocates  for  the  three  chapters,  who  were 
very  numerous,  and  even  to  fome  of  his  own  clergy, 
cfpecially  Rufticus  and  Sebaftian,  who  maintained, 
in  a  publication  on  the  fubjeft,  that  the  pope  had 
abandoned  the  council  of  Chalcedon.  The  pope, 
however,  afted  with  fpirit  on  the  occafion,  and  in 
a  ftrong  remonftrance,  in  which  he  charged  thofe 
two  prefbyters  with  grofs  inconliftency,  he  pro- 
nounced them  excommunicated. 

The  advocates  for  the  three  chapters  in  the 
mean  time  were  not  inaftive.  For  they  held  a 
coundl  in  Illyricum  in  a.  d.  550,  in  which  they 
condemned  their  enemies,  and  addreffcd  a  letter 
to  the  emperor.  The  year  following  the  bifhops 
of  Africa  proceeded  liill  farther ;  and  being  af- 
fembled  in  council,  they  excommunicated  pope 
Vigilius,  as  having  condemned  the  three  chapters. 

After  the  pope  had  publifhed  his  piece,  which 
he  mtitlcd  Jujlijieaiiim,  Facundus,  a  diftinguiihed 
African  bilhop,  then  alfo  at  Conflantinople,  wrote 

in 


SI  f  HE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XIV. 

iri  defence  of  the  three  chapters,  addreffing  his 
Work  to  the  emperor.  In  it  he  defended  eveiy 
article  in  all  the  three  chapters  at  great  length,  and 
admonidied  the  emperor  not  to  interfere  in  eccld- 
liaftical  mattdrs,  as  the  emperor  Zeno  had  done 
by  his  henoticon,  which  was  the  occafion  of  much 
diflprbance  in  the  church.  The  emperor,  how- 
ever, paid  no  regard  to  this  ivell  meant  and  fen- 
lible  admonition,  but  continued  to  employ  morfc 
of  his  time  in  adjufting  ecclefiaflical  controverfies 
than  in  the  great  bufinefs  of  the  war,  which;  under 
the  condu6l  of  the  great  Belifarius,  he  was  &t 
that  time  carrying  on  in  Italy. 

The  pope,  fenfible  of  the  ofiPence  that  he  had 
given  by  his  Jii/lifcatim,  and  perceiving  the  at- 
tachment of  the  Weftern  bifhops  to  the  threfe 
chapters,  urged  the  emperor  to  call  a  general  coun- 
cil, which,  without  any  regard  to  what  had  paffed, 
fhould  decide  upon  the  queflion,  and  that  in  the 
inean  time  all  private  difcuffion  of  it  lliould  be 
fufpended.  To  this  propofal  he  acceded,  and  the 
pope  formally  withdrexv  his  Jujtificatum, 

Notwithflanding  the  imperial  prohibition,  not 
to  difcufs  the  queftion  of  the  three  chapters,  the 
pope  was  flrongly  urged  to  join  the  Greeks  in  the 
condemnation  of  them,  even  tho'  the  bifhops  of 
Africa,  Illyricum,  and  Dalmalia  refufed  to  do  it; 
and  perfifting  in  his  refulal  fo  much  open  violence 

was 


Sec.  II.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  8^ 

was  ufed  to  him,  that  he  thought  it  neceffary  to 
,  take  refuge  under  the  altar  in  the  church  ;  and 
frem  this  fanSaary  he  was  dragged  by  his  hair, 
beard,  and  feet.  In  the  ftruggJe  feme  of  the  pillars 
of  the  altar  were  broken,  fo  that  the  holy  tabic 
tlirould  have  fallen  upon  him,  but  thf-.t  fomeof  the 
clergy  fupported  it,  and  at  length  the  people,' 
rufliing  into  the  church,  put  an  end  to  the  inde-^ 
cent  contefi:. 

In  confequence  of  this  violence,  the  pope  pre- 
pared a  fentence  of  condemnation  againft  Theodore 
of  Ctcfarea,  the  author  of  the  difturbance  in  a.  d. 
551 ;  tho'  it  was  not  to  be  publiflied  but  in  cafe  of 
farther  violence,  or  his  ow;n  death-;  ■    After  this,  a 
kind  of  treaty,  was  entered  into   between  the  pope 
and  his  adverfaries  ;  but  not  being  obferved,    an(j 
fitaring  farther  violence,  the  pope  made  his  efcape 
from  the  place  of  his  refidcncc,    by  getting  over  a 
wall,  and  flying  to  Chalcedon,    where  he  took  re- 
fuge in  the  church  of  St.  Euphemia.      From  this 
afylum  the  emperor  was  defirous  of  drawing  him  ; 
btist  he  refufed,   and  the  clergy  of  Italy,  taking iiis 
p.irt,  drew  up  a  fpiiited  remonftrance  on  the  occa- 
fion.     At  length  Theodore  made  fatisfa6lion  to  the 
pops,     fltil  confined  at  Chalcedon,    by  declaring 
his  acceptance,  of  the   four  general  councils,    and 
Msnnas  and  the  other  principal  bifhops  of  the  Eaft 
joined  in  this  acknowledgment. 

Vol.  IIK  C  Af 


3«  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

At  length,  in  a.  d.  555,  the  council,  for  which 
fo  great  pr(.parati(»n  had  been  made,  was  held  at 
Conflantin'»p!e.  Ar  the  firfl  feflion,  or  conference, 
there  were  oneliundrc  d  and  fifty-one  bifhops,  among 
whom  were  only  fi^e  from  Africa,  and  no  other  from 
an)'  part  of  the  Weft.  The  iffue  of  this  council,  as  of 
all  the  preceding,  mighc  have  been  conjeftured  from 
the  manner  in  which  it  was  opened  by  Theodore, 
on  the  part  of  the  emperor,  explaming  the  motived 
of  his  condu6l.  He  obferved  that  "  the  Neftori- 
"  ans,  no  longer  able  to  boaft  of  Neftorius  himfelf, 
*'  had  introduced  his  rriafter,  Theodore  of  Mop- 
"  fueftia,  who  had  a.^vanced  blafphemies  eveii 
f  worfe  than  his,  as  alfo  the  impious  writings  of 
**  Theodoret  a^aihft  Cyril,  and  the  deteflable  let- 
*'  ter  of  I  has,  pretending  that  it  had  been  approved 
"  by  the  council  of  Chalcedon,  which"  he  added, 
"  they  did,  not  for  the  fake  of  defending  that 
*'  council,  but  tlmt  under  its  authority  they  mightr 
"  defend  their  own  impiety.  To  oppofe  this  de- 
**  fign,"  he  faid,  "the  emperor  had  firft  confulted 
*'  them  at  their  refpedive  fees ;  but  (ince,  not- 
"  withftanding,  fhere  were  thofe  who  ftill  perlifted 
"in  maintaining  thofe  three  impious  chapters,  he 
*'  had  convened  ;hem  that  they  might  declare  their 
''joint  opinion.  Pope  Vigilius,"  he  faid,  "had" 
"  condemned  thofe  chapters  feveral  times,  as  aMo 
!"  Rufticus,  and   Sebaftian,  who  had  once^defend- 


Sec.  ii:    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHUkCH.  $$ 

**  ed  them ;"  and  he  concluded  with  faying,  that 
*'  they  who  defeired  giving  their  opinion  would 
*'  be  confidered  as  renouncing  the  profellion  of  the 
*'  truth,  and  that  they  who  fhould  anfwer  molt; 
''  readily  would  be  moft  agreeable  to  God."  This 
fpeech  was  a  fufficient  indication  of  the  difpofition 
of  the  emperor,  if  it  had  not  been  known  before ; 
ahd  therefore  judging  from  the  hiftory  of  former 
councils,  it  was  eafy  to  forefee  what  would  be  the 
iffue  of  this. 

The  pope,  tho'  then  in  Conflantinople,  and 
alfo  fome  bilhops  of  Illyricum,  declined  attending 
this  council,  alledging  that  there  were  too  few 
bifhops  from  the  Weft,  and  faid  that  they  would 
give  their  opinions  feparately  afterwards.  The 
Eaftern  bifhops,  therefore,  fat  without  them. 

At  the  firft  feffion  fome  writings  of  Theodore 
of  Mopfueftia  were  read,  as  particularly  obje£lion- 
able,  and  it  muft  be  acknowledged  that  they  favour 
ftroi-ygly  not  only  of  Neftorianifm,  but  of  down- 
right unitarianifm.  In  them  it  was  advanced, 
that  "  when  Thomas  faid,-  Aly  Lord  and  my  God, 
"  he  did  not  mean  Chrifl,  but  God  the  Father, 
"  whom  he  praifed  for  raifing  up  Chrift  ;  that  per- 
*'  fons  are  baptized  into  the  name  of  Chrift  as  the 
*'  Ifraelitcs  were  into  that  of  Mofes  ;  that  Chrift 
"  being  the  image  of  God, .  is  to  be  honoured  as 
"  the  image  of  a  prince  is  hououred;    that  he  is 

C  2  *'  th^ 


3(5  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

"  the  adopted  Ton  of  God,  as  other  perfons  are  ; 
*'  that  the  21ft  and  68th  pfalms  did  not  refer  to 
*'  Chnft  but  to  David,  and  that  the  angels  attend- 
*'  ed  upon  Chrift  as  the  fiiend  of  God."  On  the 
bare  recital  of  thofe  pafTages,  without  any  difcuf-' 
fjon  of  them,  all  the  bifhops  cried  out  aloud 
"  Anathema  to  Theodore  and  his  -writings.  This 
*'  is.  contrary  to  the  church,  contrary  to  the  faith, 
*'  this  is  impiety.      One  Theodore,  one  Judas." 

Tht-y  prefaced  this  decree  of  condemnatiori 
with  oblerving.  flat,  fince  ihe  followers  of  Nef- 
torius  fupportt^d  thtir  impiety  by  the  authority  of 
thefe  three  chapters,  they  were  affembled  to  pre- 
vent that  abuie.  "by  the  will  of  God,  and  the- 
"  command  <.>f  he  emperor."  In  fine,  they  con- 
demned all  the  three  chapters  in  the  ftrongeft 
terms,  anathematizing  the  writers  of  them,  and  all 
their  defenders.  No  perfon  appeared  in  defence 
of  any  of  the  three  chapters,  or  oppofed  Theodore 
of  Caefarea  in  any  thing,  fo  that  the  deciee  of  this 
council  cannot  be  confidered  as  any  thing  elfc 
than  the  a8;  of  the  emperor.  This  council  began 
its  fittings  on  the  4th  of  May,  and  ended  the  2d 
of  June  the  fame  year. 

After  the  fii  ft  day's  feffion,  the  pope  gave  his 
opinion,  in  a  writing  entitled  Con/litutum,  addref- 
fed  to  the  emperor,  in  which  he  joined  the  bifhops 
of  the  council  m  their  condemnation  of  the  writings 

of 


S£C.  II.   THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  S7 

of  Theodore,  but  not  in  that  of  his  pe-fn,  as  being 
dead,  which  he  maintained  to  be  contrary  to  the 
cuftom  of  the  church.  H  *  obferved  the  fame 
diftin6lion  with  refpet-l  to  Theodoret  and  Ibas. 
Sixteen  bifhops  fabicnbed  this  writing  of  the  pope, 
and  alfo  three  deacons  of  the  church  of  Rome, 
But  the  emperor  was  fo  much  offended  at  this 
condufi-  of  the  pope,  "that  he  ordered  his  name  to 
be  ftruck  out  of  the  diptics  of  the  church  of  Con- 
ftantinople ;  obferving,  however,  that  he  preferved 
his  union  with  the  Apoftolic  fee. 

The  pope  had  not  the  firrnnefs  to  continue  his 
oppofition  ;  but  being  borne  down  by  the  violence 
of  the  court,  he  acknowledged  that  he  had  done 
wrong  in  abfenting  himfelf  from  the  council ;  and 
he  even  figned  his  condemnation  of  the  writers  of 
the  three  chapters,  and  the  defenders  of  them,  as 
well  as  of  the  writings  themfelves ;  retracing  what- 
ever he  had  ever  faid  or  done  in  their  defence. 
Having  done  this  to  gratify  the  emperor,  he  ob- 
tained of  him,  in  return,  a  large  conftitution  in 
favour  of  Italy,  confirming  all  the  donations  that 
had  been  made  to  the  church  of  Rome  by  Alaric 
and  others. 

The  reception  this  council  met  with  fhews  in 
what  light  fuch  aiTemblies  of  bifhops  were  con- 
iidered;  for  it  was  of  the  fame  extent  as  the  au- 
thority of  the  emperor,    who  dire6led  its  proceed- 

C  3  ings« 


^^  sTHE  HISTORY  OF        f  er.  XIV; 

^ngs.  It  was  received  by  all  the  bifhops  of  the 
Eaft,  except  Alexander  of  Abyla,  who  for  his 
contumacy  was  depofed.  But  in  the  Weft,  which 
was  farther  removed  from  the  feat  of  power,  many 
openly  rejefcted  this  council,  thinking  that  its  de- 
crees afFetted  thofg  of  the  council  ot  Chalcedoq, 
and  the  variations  in  the  opinion  of  the  pope  corj- 
tributed  not  a  little  to  weaken  his  authority  in  this 
cafe.  This  diverfity  of  opinion  in  tne  Weit  oq- 
pafioned  a  fchifm  which  continued  more  than  a 
hundred  years.  The  deacon  I^uftipus  even  wro^e 
againfl  the  decrees  of  this  gouncil,  and  for  this  he 
\yas  baniihed  to  Thebais.  Thither  he  wa?  aq.r 
<pprnpanied  by  feyeral  perfons  from  Africa,  where, 
as  we  have  feen,  ipany  had  entertained  fentiments 
unfavourable  to  ibis  council.  Facundus,  perfif^- 
ing  in  his  defence  of  the  three  chapters,  was  alfo 
t)anifhed.  There  were  other  fchifmatics  in  QauJ, 
in  Illyricum,  ^nd  in  Ireland. 

f*ope  Pclagiu§,  who  fucceeded  Vigilius,  puf- 
nilhed  the  fchifn^atics  of  Italy  by  means  of  Nar- 
(es,  who  gpyerned  there  for  the  ernperor  j  and  it 
is  curioijs  to  obferve  in  what  manner  he  thought  to 
efcape  the  charge  of  perfecution  on  this  account. 
Writing  to  Narfes  on  the  fubjef];,  he  exhorted 
hirn  not  to  be  moved  by  the  ''vain  difcourfes  of 
'■  thofe  who  fay  that  the  church  perfecutes,  when 
"  it  only  punifhcs  crimes,  and  fceks  the  falvation 
^-      '     •  ''of 


.^« 


Sec.  n.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  |9 

**  of  fouls.  They  only  perfr  cate,"  he  fays,  "  who 
V  compel  to  do  what  is  evil.  But  Ichifin  is  an 
*'  evil,  which  ought  to  be  repreircd  bv  the  fccular 
•'  power;  and  whoever  is  feparated  from  the 
"  apciftolic  fee  is  unqatftionabiy  in  fcrjiiin."  He 
therefore  defired  him  to  fend  all  who  wtre  rehact- 
ory  to  the  e»nperor;  for  that  fch)i:naiics  »>Uj^!ic  io 
be  punifhed,  not  only  with  ;  xilc-,  bat  by  confiica- 
tion  of  goods  and  feveie  nnpriUmuu  !it.  The 
fchifmatics,  however,  wttrti  !o  Ur  from  bong  niti- 
midatcd  by  thtfe  rigorous  pr  c.:t;ding^,  that  they 
excommunicaied  even  Naileii  hm^rif.  ,     > 

Tne  biihoos  of  fulcany  were  fo  much  diiTa- 
tisficd  wi^h  the  conduct  ol  the  pope  on  liiis  .cca- 
fion,  that  they  ftiuck  his  nameoutof  ihe  diptychs 
of  their  churches,  which  was  a  virtual  excommuni- 
cation of  him.  And  this  fpinted  condud:  ot  thc^irs 
feenis  to  have  made  fome  impreflion  on  him ,  for 
in  a  letter  which  he  addrefled  to  them  on  the  oc- 
calipa,  he  gave  a  confeffior^  of  his  faith,  which  he 
concluded  with  faying,  that  "he  honoured  as  ca- 
*'  tholic  the  venerable  bifhops  Thc-doret  and 
"  Ibas."  He  aifo  fent  a  confelTion  of  his  faith, 
with  an  account  of  the  controverfy,  to  king  Chil- 
debert  in  Gaul. 

The  bifhops  of  Illria,  with  Eljas  pafriaich  of 
Aquileia  at  their  head,  being  particularly  obflinatc 
jn  this  fchifm,  paps  Pelagms  aJJreired  three  let- 

C  4  ters 


40  THE  PIISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

ters  to  them  ;    but  it  was.  Without  effe.*^.       After- 
wards the  exarch  compelled  the  fucceiTor  oi  Elias 
to  enter  into  communion  with  John  of  Ravenna, 
who  condemned  the  three  chapters  ;  but  the  people 
and  the  other  bifhops  were  fo  offended  at  thejr  con- 
du6l,  that  they  confidtred  them  as  apoilates.    The 
fchifm  in  Iftria  continued   to  the  time  of  Gregory 
the  Great.       This  pope   who  took   great  pains  to 
put  an  end  to  it,  held  a  council  at  Rome,   f-or  the 
purpofe  in  a.  d.  591,  and  particularly  invited  t^v:; 
bilhop  of  Aquileia  to  attend  it.       But  the  biiho    .; 
of  the  province  held  a  fepa rate  council,  when  >' 
wrote  to  the  emperor,    referring  themfelves  t- ' : 
judgment,  but  refufmg  that  of  the  pope,  as  a  r 
'^y  in  the  caufe.      Maurice  wa5  then  emperor,  ir.,\' 
he  was  fo  much  moved  by  this  letter,     tha'   he  it; 
treated  the  pope  not  to  give  them  any  mokftatiuri 
till  Italy  Ihould  be  at  peace.    Some  perfons,  how- 
ever, in  Iftria  abandoned  the  fchifm,  and  Gregory 
wrote  in  their  favour  to  the  exarch,  and  the  bifhop 
of  Ravenna,  to  prevent   their  fuffering  in  confe- 
querice  of  it;     which  implies   that  the  country  in 
general  were  favourers  of  this  fchifm. 

Theodelinda  wife  of  Agilulf  king  of  the  Lom- 
bards in  Italy  was  fo  zealous  in  favour  of  the  threfe 
chapters,  that  becaufe  Conflantius,  bifhop  of  Mi- 
Jan,  did  not  exprefsly  take  tht;  fame  part,  (lie  fe- 
parated  from  his  communion,  and  three  of  his 
■  •  bifhops 


Stc.  II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  4i 

if 

bifhops  joined  her  in  it.  Pope  Gregory,  writing  , 
to  her  on  this  queftion,  and  merely  mentioning 
&\e  fifth  general  council,  which  had  condemned 
the  three  chapters,  Conftantius  did  not  even  think 
lirroper  to  prefent  the  letter ;  and  in  confequence 
the  pope  wrote  another  letter,  in  which  he  made  no 
mention  at  all  of  it ;  fo  far  d«d  this  great  pope 
th'nk  it  neceffary  to  temporize  in  this  bufinefs. 
Farther  than  this,  when  the  bilhops  and  citizens 
of  Brefcia  required  Conflaniius  to  declare  that  he 
had  never  condemned  the  three  chapters,  the  pope 
advifed  him  to  do  what  his  predecefTors  had  done 
before  him,  and  abide  by  it ;  but,  to  fatisfy  the 
people,  he  wifhed  him  to  declare  that  he  did  nofe 
deviate  from  the  council  of  Chalcedon, 

It  appears  from  the  letters  of  Gregory,  'hat 
there  were  fchifmatics  alfo  in  Gaul,  who  withdrew 
from  the  communion  of  the  church,  on  the  pre- 
tence of  adhering  to  the  council  of  Chalcedon. 
Syangrius  of  Autun,  who  was  f^nt  to  Rome  to 
receive  the  pallium  from  the  pope,  with  the  re- 
commendation of  the  king,  was  of  this  number. 

At  length,  in  a.  d.  603,  Firmus  bifhop  of 
Iftria  renounced  the  fchifm,  and  wrote  to  pope 
Gregory  to  acknowledge  it,  notwithftanding  the 
utmoft  endeavours  of  Severus  bifhop  of  Grada  to 
prevent  it.  Maximus  biQiop  of  Salonse  renounced 
the  fchifm  in  a.  d.  599.      It  appears  there  were 

C  5  fome 


0  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

fome  remains  of  this  fchifm  in  the  church  of  Aqui- 
leia  in  A.  d.  606,  one  of  the  bifhops  of  that  tio- 
cefe,  named  John,  being  fuppofed  to  defend  tho 
three  chapters.  Alfo  Agreftus,  who  feparated 
from  the  monks  of  St.  Coluniban,  went  into  thil 
Ichifm. 


*>i     . 


SECTION  in. 

The  Hift'^ry  of  Arianifm  in  this  Period, 


W: 


E  have  feen  that  almoft  all  the  bar- 
barous nations  bordering  on  the  Rimian  empir^ 
were  converted  to  chriftianity  by  unitarians,  or 
Arians,  efpecially  the  latter,  when  they  were  fent 
into  banifhment  by  the  orthodox  emperors.  This 
was  the  cafe  with  the  Vandals,  who,  after  traverf- 
ing  Gaul  and  Spain,  feized  upon  a  great  part  of 
Africa.  Unfortunately  thefe  Arians,  having  been 
perfecuted  by  the  Catholics,  became  perfecutors 
in  their  turn.  This,  at  leaft,  appears  to  have  been 
the  cafe  with  Genferic,  the  firf^  king  of  the  Van- 
dals in  Africa,  and  his  fucceiTors.  For  other 
Arian  princes,  we  fhall  find,  were  remarkably  to- 
lerant. 

Genferic  began  with  forbidding  the  ordination 
of  any  Catholic  clergy  in   the  Proconlular   pro- 
vince, 


Sec.  IIL  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH^  43 

yince,  and  in  Zeugitana,  fo  that  trom  being  fixty- 
four  in  number,  they  were,  at  the  end  of  thirty- 
years,  reduced  to  three.  He  then  obh'ged  the 
CathoHc  clergy  to  deliver  up  their  facred  vdTels^ 
and  their  books.  Pie  alfo  allowed  none  but  Arians 
to  attend  upon  himfelt,  or  any  of  his  childreHj  and 
at  length  he  fhut  up  the  Catholic  church  at  Car- 
thage, and  banilhed  the  clergy  :  for  at  that  tinie 
there  was  no  bifhop  of  the  place. 

This  prince  dying  in  a.  d.  477,  was  fucceeded 
]by  his  fpn  Huncric,    who  at  firfl  behaved  towards 
the  Catholics  with  much  moderation ;    but  aft  r- 
wards  became  a  mofl  cruel  perfecuvor  of  them,  and 
pot  ot  them  oidy,     but    alfo  of  the   Manirhecins, 
Tnany  of  wh-)m  he  caufed  to  be  turned,  aud  Oihers 
]ba;;'fhed.     The  behaviour  of  the  Catholics,  how- 
ever, turnifhed  fome    excufe    for  this  fevcrity  of 
Huneric.      For  the  Catholic   church  of  Carthage 
|iaving  bevn  without  a  bifhop  twenty-four  years, 
he  permitted  the  or4inalion  of  another,    at  the  re- 
jqneil  of  ^hfi  emperor  Zeno,    on  condition  that  the 
Arians  in   his    empire  might  have  the  liberty  of 
exercifing  their  religion,    than  wliich  nothing  cer* 
$ainly  could  be  moie  reafonable.   Notwithflanding 
this,    the   Catholics  replied  that  oqi  thofe  terms 
they  cbofe  rather   to  have  no  bifhops,    but  leave 
Ihegovernmentof  the  church  to  Jefus  Chrill.   The 
^rornmifTary,    Jioweyerj     took  no  notice  of  their 

pro.teSI, 


M  tHE  HISTORY  OF       TtK.  XIV. 

proteft,  and  Eugenius,  who  had  diflinguifhed  him- 
felf  by  his  exemplary  C()ndu6l,   particaiaily  by  his 
charities,  was  appointed  bifhop,  to  the  great  joy  of 
the  Cathohcs,    efpecially  the  young  people,    who 
had  never  feen  any  bifhop  in  that  lee. 

Left  any  of  the  Vandals  (hould  at' end  divine 
fervice  in  the  CathoHc  church,  it  v/as  ordered 
that  no  perfon  in  any  other  habit  than  that  of  a 
Roman,  Ihauld  be  prefent ;  and  to  enforce  this 
order,  perfons  were  appointed  to  attend  at  the 
door,  who  were  direQed  to  tear  the  clothes  of,  and 
otherwife  abufe,  thofe  who  attempted  to  enter  in 
difobedience  to  it.  In  the  next  place,  he  took 
away  the  penfions  of  the  Catholics  v»-ho  were  about 
the  court,  and  obliged  them  to  perform  harvefi 
work,  and  other  laborious  fervices  in  the  country. 
He  then  difcharged  all  Catholics  from  ferving  in 
any  public  office,  andbanifhed  them  to  Sicily  and 
Sardinia.  He  ordered  that  the  goods  of  the  Ca- 
thoHc biftiops  fhould  be  confifcated  after  their 
deaths,  and  that  no  perfon  fhould  be  chofen  to 
fucceed  them  till  they  had  paid  a  large  fine.  But 
apprehending  that  the  Arian  bifhops  in  Thrace, 
and  other  places,  would  be  treated  in  the  fame 
manner,  he  revoked  this  order.  At  length,  how- 
ever, he  banifhed  all  the  Catholic  bifhops  to  the 
number  of  four  thoufand  nine  hundred  and  feven- 
ty-lix,    without  any  regard  to  the  age,    or  the  in- 

firmi- 


Sec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ii 

firmities  of  many  of  thcnii  Thofe  who  either, 
would  not,  or  could  not,  go,  he  ordered  to  be 
fent  into  the  defert ;  and  previous  to  this  they  were 
all  airembled  at  Sicca,  and  Lafea,  arid  put  into  a 
clofe  prifon,  where  they  were  fubjedled  to  the  moft 
diftrefling  and  difgufting  inconveniencics.  After 
this  they  were  driven,  like  fo  many  beafls,  into 
the  defert,  where  they  had  for  fome  time  an  allow- 
ance ot  barley,  but  it  was  afterwards  withdrawn; 

At  length,  in  a.  d.  483,  the  king  fent  notice 
to  the  bifhop  Eugenius,  that  finding  that  many, 
contrary  to  his  order,  had  celebrated  the  Lords 
fupper  in  the  country  pofleffed  by  the  Vandals, 
to  their  feduftion,  with  the  confent  of  his  own 
bifhops,  he  ordered  him  to  prepare  for  a  public  difr 
putation  on  the  fubje6l  of  their  differences.  The 
Catholics,  forefeeing  that  this  meafure  was  only  9> 
prelude  to  fome  farther  perfeeution,  wifhed  to  de- 
cline it,  but  propofcd  that,  if  it  fliould  take  place, 
they  might  be  aflilled  by  the  Catholic  bilhops  of 
other  countries.  To  this  the  king  paid  no  regard; 
but  on  the  contrary  he  took  occafion  to  banidi 
feveral  of  the  moll  learned  of  the  Catholic  bilhops 
in  Afi'ica. 

On  the  fiifl  of  February,  the  day  appointed 
for  the  conference,  ten  perfons  were  chofen  on 
each  fide  to  condu6l  it.  Various  difficulties  arif- 
ing-,  the  Catholic?  gave  in  a  confeflTion  of  their  faith,' 

with 


U  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XlV. 

with  tfie  reafons  on  which  it  was  founded.  This 
Was  on  the  20th  of  April.  But  inftead  of  any 
6ther  anfwer,  the  king,  after  complaining  of  their 
behaviour,  made  an  order  that  every  thing  belong- 
ing to  the  churches  of  the  Catholics,  or  to  the 
bilhops,  fhould  be  given  to  the  Arian  clergy.  He 
gave  them  to  the  firft  of  June  to  make  their  fub- 
miflTion,  and  after  that  he  banilhed  them  from  Car- 
thage, ftripped  of  every  thing  belonging  to  them, 
.ind  with  a  prohibition  to  every  body  to  fupply 
them  with  neceffarie^.  In  this  diftrefs  they  ap- 
plied to  the  king  in  perfon  ;  but  inftead  of  giving 
any  attention  to  them,  he  ordered  his  horfemen  to 
difperfe  them,  and  feveral  old  and  infirm  people 
were  wounded.  After  this  they  were  ordered  to 
meet  fome  commiflioners  from  the  king,  who  in- 
formed them  that,  if  they  would  take  an  oath  to' 
rnaintain  the  fucceffion  of  the  next  heir  to  the 
crown,  and  not  write  to  their  friends  in  other  coun- 
tries, they  lliould  have  their  churches  and  houfcs 
reftored  to  them.  For,  having  been  in  power,  it 
was  highly  probable  that  they  had  correfponded 
with  the  popes,  and  the  emperors,  in  order  to 
bring  about  a  revolution,  and  of  courfe  a  changi* 
in  their  favour.  Thofe,  however,  who  took  this 
oath  were  fent  into  the  country  to  cultivate  the 
crround  like  flaves,  and  the  reft  were  banifhed  to 
Corfic?a,    to  cut  wood  for  Ihip  building.       The 

per- 


Sec.  in.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCIL  if 

perfecution  then  became  avowed,  ancf  general; 
and  it  was  condu6i;ed  with  all  the  cruelty  with 
which  the  Heathens  had  a£led  towards  the  Chrif- 
tians,  neither  age  nor  fex  being  fpared.  It  is  to 
be  obferved.  however,  that  we  have  no  account 
of  this  perfecution  except  fronithe  Catholics. 

Among  thofe  who  were  banifhed  on  this  occa- 
lion,  was  Vigilius  of  Thapfus,  who  wrote  many 
things  in  the  name  of  Athanafius,  and  others  of 
the  Chriftian  fathers  on  account,  as  he  allcdged, 
of  his  fituation,  not  daring  to  write  in  his  owit 
name.  Thofe  writings  ol  his  under  borrowed 
names  long  paffed  for  the  produ6lion  of  an  earlier 
age,  efpecially  the  famous  creed  which  he  afcribed 
to  Athanafius,  and  which  ftill  bears  hrs  name, 
Vigilius,  however,  going  to  Conftantinople,  wrote 
in  hiis  own  name  againft  Euiychianifm. 

Among  other  barbarities  exercifed  on  thofe' 
African  Catholics,  the  king  ordered  the  tongues 
df  fome  of  them  to  be  cut  out.  But  it  is  laid  that, 
notwithftanding  this,  they  continued  to  fpcak  as 
well  as  ever.  Vi6lor  of  Vita,  who  relates  this, 
fays  "  If  any  perfon  will  not  believe  this,  let  him 
*'  go  to  Conftantinople,  where  he  may  fee  one  of 
*'  them,  Reparatus,  a  fubdeacon,  who  now  fpeaks 
**  without  difficulty,  and  who  is  on  this  account 
**  held  in  great  honour  by  the  emperor  Zeno." 

Con*- 


4^  THE  HISTORY  Ol'        Per.  XIV* 

Confi^eri-pg.ithe    many    miraculous    circum- 
Ilances,  evid^r.tl)'  fabulous,  that   are  inferted  into, 
the  account  of  this  perfecution,  this  particular  cir- 
cuniftante  would  not  be  entitled  to  any  credit,  had 
not  a  Pk  tonic  philofopher,   ^neas  of  Gaza,   fai(J 
that  he  himfeit  h^d  fren  thefe  martyrs,  and  heard 
them  fpeak ;    and  that  he  wondered  not  only  that 
they  fhould-he  able  to  fpeak,    but  even  to   livSi 
This,  however,    muft  be  an   exaggeration,  for  if 
they  had  had  no  part  of  the  tongue  left,  they  could 
not  have  had  the  power  of  fwallowing,  and  there- 
fore without  a,  conftant  miracle  muft  have  diedj 
and  as  this  philofopher  did  not  fee  them  till  long 
after  the  operation,  they  might  have  acquired  fome 
power  of  Articulation   with   a  very  little  tongue. 
The. narrative  adds,    that  two  of  thefe  confeffors 
having  had,  to  do  with  a  common  proftitute,    iofl 
the  power  6f  fpeaking  ;  and  that  one  of  them,  who 
had  never  fpoken  from  his  birth,    even   when  he 
had  a  tongue,    began  to  fpeak  after  it  was  cut  Out. 
Such  an  account  as  this  certainly  does  not  add  to 
the  credibility  of  the  ftory. 

I  have  omitted  the  mention  of  many  impro- 
bable circumftances  in  the  relation  of  this  perfecu- 
tion ;  but  I  fhall  notice  one,  as,  like  the  reft,  it 
may  fhew  us  in  what  light  other  particulars  in  the 
narrative  may  be  confidered.  Seven  n^onks  were 
ordered  to  be  put  into  a  vefl'el  filled  with  fmall  dry 

woodj 


Sec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  49 

WDOxi,  to  which  fire  was  to  be  fet  when  they  wer^ 
^t  fea.  But  it  was  found  irnpoflible  to  fire  this^ 
wood.  1  he  king,  it  is  faid,  feeing  this,  and 
being  in  a  ogc  at  it,  ordered  their  heads  to  be 
broken  with  a  bar  oi  iron,  and  their  bodies  to  be 
throivn  into  the  fca. 

After  fo  evident  a  miracle  in  favouf  of  thofe 
mai:tyrs,  it  is  not  to  be  believed  that  even  a 
Heathen  perfeciitor  would  have  perfifled  in  his 
puqx>fe.  Had  Jefus  adually  defcended  from  the 
crofs,  and  prefented  himfelf  before  the  Jewifh 
rulers,  they  furely  would  not  have  made  any  other 
attempt  O'U  his  hfe. 

A  flimine  and  a  plague  with  which  Africa  was 
affli6led  was  confidered   as  a  divine  iudc^ment  on 

•J  O 

account  of  this  perfecution,  and  fo  was  the  death 
of  Huneric  in  a.  d.  485;  his  body  being  eaten  of 
worms  andfalhngin  pieces,  which,  it  is  fomething 
remarkable,  was  the  cafe  of  feveral  other  perfecut 
tors.  The  emperor  Zeno  fent  an  embaffy  to 
Huneric  on  the  fubjea  of  this  perfecution,  but 
without  any  good  efFca. 

This  perfecution  ceafed  on  the  fucceffion  of 
Gontamond.  He  recalled  from  exile  Eugenius 
bifliop  Of  Carthage.  In  the  third  year  of  his  reian 
he  reflored  to  the  Catholics  of  that  city  the  buiy- 
mg  ground  of  St.  Agileus,  and  in  his  tenth  j^ear 
he  allowed  the  opening  of  all  their  churches.    His 


^0  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XIV; 

brother  Trafamond,    who  fucceeded  him  in  a.  n, 
496,  endv  avoured  to  g?in  the  Catholics  by  rewards  ; 
bat  this  not  anfwenng  his  purpofe,   he  forbad  th« 
cledion  of  bifhops  to  their  vacant  fees.  Little  regard, 
however,     was    paid   to  this  order;     and    among 
others  Fulgentius  was  ordained   biftiop  of  Rufp6, 
but  he    was    immediately    banifhed   to    Sardinia. 
After  this  the  king  fent  for  him,    and  propofed  to 
him  fome   difficulties,    and  tho'  he  gave  the  king 
tio    fatisfaftion,     the    Catholics    of  Carthage  tri- 
umphed not  a  little  on  the  occalion.     The  king 
fending  him  other  queries,  he  anfwered  them  in  a 
treatife  which   is   flill  extant.       After  this  he  was 
remanded  to  the  place  of  his  exile. 

On  the  death  of  Trafamond  in  a.  d.  523,  his 
fucceffor,  Hulderic,  recalled  all  the  Catholic 
bifhops,  and  permitted  them  to  open  their  churches. 
They  were  received  with  great  joy  h^r  their  Ca- 
tholic friends,  and  efpecially  Fulgentius. 

The  Catholics  had  little  reafon  to  complain  of 
perfecution  to  which  they  were  always  fufficiently 
inclined  themfelves,  and  when  the  Donatifts  re- 
covered their  liberty  under  the  Vandals,  it  gave 
them  great  offence.  The  emperor  Juftin  having 
ordered  all  their  churches  to  be  taken  from  the 
Arians,  Ther  d  ric  king  of  Italy  threatened  to 
treat  the  Catholics  in  the  fame  manner,  and  ob- 
liged the  pope,  who  was  his  fubjeft.  to  go  in  per 

f'-a 


Sec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  St 

Ton  to  the  emperor  at  Conftantinople,    to  get  the 
order  revoked,  which  he  did,  and  fucceeded. 

On  this  occalion,  as  well  as  on  many  others, 
religion  was  too  oiten  made  a  pretence  for  politi- 
cal meafures.  Clovis  king  of  France  made  war 
on  Agaric  a  Gothic  king  in  Spain,  with  a  view, 
as  he  faid,  to  extirpate  Arianifm  ;  but  no  doubt 
to  enlarge  his  dominions. 

The  Vandal  princes  were  not,    however,    the 
cn-y  Arian  perfecutors  of  the  Catholics.     Evaric, 
the  Gothic  king  of  Spain,     perfecuted  them,    for- 
bidding to  ordain  any  biihops  in  the  place  of  thofe 
who  were  deceafed.       He   alfo  banifhed  fome  of 
them,    fo   that    many    of  their  churches  went  to 
ruin.       Levigild,  king  of  the  Vifigoths  in  SpaiDy 
was  exceedingly  provoked  that  his  fon  Hermeni- 
gild  was  made  a  Catholic  by  his  wile.      He  banifh- 
ed,    and  put  to  death,    many  Catholics ;    and  at 
length  proceeded  to  this  extremity  with  his   fon, 
alter   promifmg   him   his  life,    but    without     ef- 
fetl,  if  he  would  confent  to  receive  the  communion 
at  the  hands  ol  an  Arian  bifhop.       He  alfo  perfe- 
cuted the  Suevi  who  inhabited   Gallicia  on  their 
becoming  Catholics-      Afterwards  he   repented  of 
the  murder  of  his  fon,  whom  he  did  not  long  fur- 
vive,    and  even  became  a  Catholic  himfelf.       He 
duril  not,    ho'vever,    acknowledge  i^,    for  fear  of 
his  fubjefts.       But  his  fon  and  fucceffor  Ricared,, 

D   2  openly 


THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

openly  avowed  himfelf  a  Catholic,  and  the  con- 
verfion  of  the  whole  nation  followed  foon  after. 
Thus  ended  the  reign  of  Arianifm  in  Spain. 

Ricand  become  a  Catholic,  held  a  council  at 
Tolecto  in  A.  d.  589,  in  which  the  king  and  all 
the  bifhops  folemnly  abjured  all  herefy,  acknow- 
ledging the  aufhority  of  all  the  general  councils, 
and  exprefsly  rejefting  the  decrees  of  a  former  coun- 
cil held  at  the  fame  place,  and  that  at  Rimini  in 
Italy.  And  whereas  the  Arian  bilhops  had  been 
ma;ried,  this  was  on  this  occafion  forbidden  to  the 
Catholics.  At  a  council  held  at  I^arbonne  in 
Gaul,  where  were  feveral  of  the  fame  bifhops  who 
attended  this  council  of  Toledo,  it  was  ordered 
that,  after  the  recita'ion  of  every  pfalm  in  the  pub- 
lic worlhip,  the  gloria  Patri  &c.  fhould  be  fung, 
as  a  profefhon  of  faith,  againfl  Arianifm.  This 
was  univerfdly  adopted  by  the  Catholics,  a^d  it  is' 
in  the  hturgy  of  the  church  of  England  to  this  day. 

In  general  it  is  acknowledged  that  the  Ariaii 
priuces  were  tolerant.  Odoacer  fliewed  the  Ca- 
tholics of  Italy  all  pollible  indulgence,  and  fo  did 
Theodoric  alttr  him.  Had  he  been  a  Catholic 
himfcH,  he  could  iot  have  behaved  to  the  bifliop; 
and  clergy  ol  Rome  with  more  equity  and  gencv^ 
rofity,  Alfo,  while  Trafamond  was  perfecuting 
thp  Caihohcs  in  Ahica^    Alaiic  king  of  the  Vid^ 

goths 


$£c.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHtTRGH,  m 

goths  in  Sp  in,  tho*  an  Arian,    treated  them  with 
the  greateft  humanity. 

It  is  remarkable  that,  tho'  all  the  nations  that 
conquered,  and  fettled  in,  the  Roman  empire  were 
at  that  time  Arians,  they  all  afterwards,  chiefly  by 
the  influence  of  the  popes,  became  Catholics;  and 
It  is  no  lefs  remarkable,  that  in  ma^y  of  the  Ccifes 
women  were  the  chief  infl:ruments  m  eff^etlmg  th^ 
charge. 

In  A.  D.  516  Gondebold,  the  Arian  ki  g  of 
t>  e  Burgundians,  was  luccceded  by  his  fon  Si^.f- 
maiid,  aqd  he  was  converted  to  the  Catholrc  t'aftli 
bv  Avitus  bifhop  of  Vienne.  In  a,  d.  562  'he 
Suevi  of  Spain  became  (  atholics.  In  a.  d.  591 
Theodelmda  the  wife  of  Agiluf  king  ot  the  Lom- 
bards in  Ita'y,  converted  her  hufband  ;  and  events 
uaily  all  Lombardy  became  Catholic. 

Tho'  thefe  northern  conquerors  are  in  general 
called  Arians  by  hiilorians,  it  is  evident  that  there 
were  many  proper  unitarians  among  them  ;  and 
for  any  thing  that  certainly  appears,  the  majority 
may  have  been  fuch.  Of  the  Burgundians,  whom 
St.  Patient  took  much  pains  to  brir.g  over  to  the 
Catholic  faith,  it  is  exprefsly  faid  that  they  were 
Photinians.  Alfo  Chilperic  king  of  the  Francs 
was  a  Sabellian.  This  prince  made  an  order  that, 
inftead  of  the  term  trinity,  the  word  God,  without 
any  hint  of  dillindion  of  peifons,  fhouid  be  ufed. 

D  3  But 


if|,  THE  HISTORY  OF         Ter.  XI^. 

But   being  oppofed  by    Gregory  of  Tours,     and 
other  biihops,  he  dropped  that  dehgn. 

When  thefe  kings  found  it  convenient  to  be- 
come Cathohcs,  the  people  did  not  always  follow 
their  example  ;  and  when  we  confider  the  fenfiblc 
reafoning  of  the  A^i^iis  on  the  fubjedl,  we  cannot 
but  be  fatisfied  that  the  converlions  were  not  the  ef- 
fe6i;  of  arcrument.  When  Avitus  addrefled  Gon- 
deboldking  of  the  Bargundians,  and  exhorted  him 
to  return,  as  he  faid,  "  to  the  law  of  God,"  and 
that  then  he  would  have  peace  with  all  his  enemies, 
he  replied  "  Becaufe  I  will  not  acknowdedge  three 
«'  Gods,  you  fay  I  will  not  acknowledge  the  law 
''  of  God.  I  never  read  in  the  fcriptures  that 
"  there  are  more  gods  than  one."  W^hen  he  after- 
wards became  a  Catholic,  he  durft  not  make  open 
profeffion  of  his  faith,  tho' urged  to  it  by  Avitus, 
for  fear  of  his  people,  who  were  Hill  zealous  Aricms. 


SECTION   IV. 

The  HiJIory  of  the  Monks  in  this  Period. 


w. 


E  have  feen  in  former  periods  at 
this  Hiftory  what  deep  root  the  principles  of  the 
monkifli  fyftem  had  taken  in  the  minds  of  the 
generality  of  Chriftians.     Unfortunately,  they  had 

learned 


Hec.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  $^ 

learned  of  the  Heathens  that  they  were  to  recom- 
mend themfelves  to  the  deity  by  aufterity,  and 
abftradl  contemplation ;  that  by  thefe  methods 
they  attained  the  higheft  pitch  of  excellence  to 
which  human  nature  could  arrive,  every  other  at- 
tainment being  of  far  inferior  value.  On  thofe 
principles  many  thoufand  perfons,  in  all  Chnftian 
countries,  had  fecluded  themfelves  from  the  world, 
and  confequently  from  all  the  duties  of  fecial  life, 
to  employ  themfelves  in  prayer  and  meditation, 
and  in  circumftances  in  which  life  could  barely  be 
fupported ;  thinking  that  the  foul  was  elevated 
and  refined  by  the  mortification  of  the  body. 

But  hitherto  this  bufinefs  had  not  been  reduced 
to  any  uniform   plan.       They  who  adopted  the 
monkifh  life,    tho'  they  retired  from  the   world, 
mixed  with  it  again  whenever  they   thought   pro- 
per, and  voluntarily  conformed  to  whatever  mode 
of  living  they  mod  approved,  and  thefe  were  very- 
various.       This  continued  to  be  the   cafe  in   the 
Eaft ;     but  in  the  Wefl  we  now  find   a  more  re- 
gular  fyftem  adopted,    the  monks  binding  them- 
felves hy  folemn  oaths  to  devote  their  whole  lives 
to  their  profcffion,  to  conform  to  a  fyftem  of  rules, 
and  to  obey  a  f uperior.       In  confequence,  too,  of 
XYiQ  monks  forming   themfelves  into  more  regular 
bodies,  under  a  few  heads^    we  fhall  find  them  ac- 
jC[uire  mors  influence,  and  gradually  obtaining  ex- 

D  4  -  emptipns 


^-  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV? 

emptions  from  the  authority  o\  the  bifhops  in  whofe 
diocefes  they  lived,  fho'  as  yet  this  was  littfe  Com- 
pared  to  what  lihey  obtained  in  later  periods. 

This  change  in  ths  affairs  of  the  monks  was 
madfe  by  RenediB,  and  his  rtiles  being  univerfally 
adopted!^  in  the  Weft,  it  may  be  proper  to  give 
fome  account  of  the  man,  and  his  previous  hiflory. 

Benedicl  was  born  in  a.  d.  480,  of  a  good  fa- 
mily, at  Nurfia  in  Italy,     and  educated  at  Rome, 
Being  offended  at  the  wickednefs  of  the  times,  he 
pafTed  three  years  in  retirement,    unknown  to  any 
perfon,  except  one  Romanus,  who  fupplied  him. 
with  viSuals,  while  he  lived  in  a  cavern  in  a  rock. 
By  degrees,  however,    he   became  known  to   the 
neighbours,  who  fupphed  his  wants,  and  received 
his  inftru6lions.     His  fdme  extending  itfelf,  many 
perfons   put  themfelves  under  his   conduft ;    and 
for  fOme  time  he  undertook  the  charge  of  a  mo- 
naftery  at  Vicovarro.       But  the  monks  not  liking 
his  fevere  difcipline,  he  left  them,  and  went  back 
to  his  former  retirement.       Becoming  more   and 
more  diftinguiflied,    he  built  twelve  monafteries, 
each  confifting  of  twelve  monks,    and  a  fuperior. 
At  length,  however,    giving  ivay  to  the  envy  of  ci 
prieft,  whofe  name  was  Florentius,  he  abandoned 
all  his  monafteries,    and  removing  from   place  to 
place,  came  at  laft  to  mount  CafTin  in  the  country 
cf  the  antient  Samnites,  on  the  declivity  of  which 
^  tbere 


Sec.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  $-t 

there  was  a  fmall  town.  Here  he  demolifhed  an 
antient  tempk  of  Apollo,  to  whom  the  people 
then  offered  facrifices,  and  built  two  oratories, 
one  to  St.  Martin,  and  the  other  to  St.  John ; 
and  in  A.  D.  529  he  founded  there  the  monaOc;  7 
which  was  aftenvards  fo  famous.  The  foUowinc 
is  an  abftraft  o{  Benedi6l's  principal  rules,     , 

He  had  fixed   times  for  public  prayers,     and 
they  varied  with  the  feafons  of  the  year.       One  of 
thefe  times  was  in  the  night, ,  as  well  as  early  in  the 
morning.     At  thefe  meetings  for  prayer  the  pfalter 
was  recited  every  week,    which   he  thought  very 
m<3derate,  as  he  faid  their  fathers  repcrited  the  whole 
every  day  wit|i  fervour.     After  thefe  pablic  pray- 
ers each  monk  prayed  by  himfelf,    and  the   time 
that  was  notfpentni  prayer  was  employed  in  work- 
ing or  reading;    and  he  ordered  that  there  Ihould 
be  feven  hours  for  working,     and  two  for  reading, 
every  day.      If  the  harveft  required  it,  they  worked 
more  hours.     The  work  was  not,  however,  left  to 
their  choice,     but  was  enjoined   by  the  fupeiior; 
and  from  the  nature  of  this  work  it   appears  that 
the  majority  of   Benedi6l's  monks   were  artifims ; 
and   thofe  of  better  condition  among    them  were 
required  to  employ  themfelves  as  the  reft  did. 

With  refpeft  to  their  diet,  they  were  not  allow* 
ted  either  flefh  meat  or  fifh,  but  they  were  not  for- 
bidden  a  moderate  ufe  of  wine.       They  ali  per- 

D  5  formed 


5a  THE  HISTORY  GF         Per.  XIV, 

formed  the  fervile  offices  of  the  family,  fuch  as  pre- 
paring the  victuals  in  their  turns.  Their  drels  was 
that  of  the  poorer  people  of  the  country,  without 
any  regard  to  the  colour  or  length  of  their  gar- 
ments ;  but  they  had  them  out  ot  a  common  flot^ 
at  the  difcretion  of  the  fuperior. 

All  the  monks  flept  in  fcparate  beds,  ten  ox 
twenty  in  the  fame  room,  or  dormitory,  in  each  of 
whrch  was  one  elderly  peifon  to  oblerve  the  con- 
duel;  of  the  reft  ;  and  that  they  might  always  be 
able  to  attend  thti  public  prayers,  they  flept  in 
their  clothes.  No  fpoakmg  was  allowed  m  the 
dormitorj,  and  but  little  in  the  courfe  of  the  day. 
Nothing  of  recreation  is  mentioned  in  Benedict's 
inHitute ;  but  after  fupper,  while  the  rtft  of  the 
"monks  were  feated,  one  perfon  read  to  ihem  in 
the  lives  of  the  faints,  or  feme  other  book  of  edi- 
fication. Thefe  original  Benedictines  were  all  of 
the  laity,  Benedict  himfelf  not  being  in  orders, 
tho'  he  preached.  It  any  prieft  joined  them,  he 
was  to  he  fubje6t  to  the  fame  rules  with  the  other 
monks,  except  that  he  was  feated  next  to  the  Ab- 
bot. They  received  the  communion  only  on  Sun- 
days. They  had  no  occafion  to  learn  Latin,  ajB 
that  was   ftill  the  vulgar  tongue  in  Italy. 

If  any  monk  went  out  of  the  monaftery,  which 
€Ould  not  be  done  without  leave  horn  the   abbot, 

he 


Sec.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  5» 

•    ■    -  -J 

lie  was  forbidden  to  fpeak  of  any  thing  that   was 
tranfadled  without  it. 

Strangers  were  received  into  the  monaflery, 
and  treated  with  great  hofpitality  ;  and  for  this 
.purpofe  the  abbot  had  a  table  feparate  from  that  of 
jthe  monks. 

The  abbot  was  chofen  by  the  monks,  though 
fometimes  the  neighbouring  bifhops  interfered,  to 
prevent  an  improper  choice  ;  and  when  he  was 
chofen,  he  was  ordained  by  the  bifiiop  of  the  dio- 
cefe.  He  might  confult  with  the  monks,  but  all 
the  power  was  in  his  own  hands.  Under  the  ab- 
bot was  a  prior,  and  feveral  deans,  each  having  the 
infpeftion  often  monks.  Thefewere  appointed  by 
.the  abbot,  and  were  not  independent  on  him ;  as  the 
in  other  monafteries.  .  There  were  alfo  other  offi- 
jcers,  as  in  other  great  famihes. 

A  novice  was  not  received  till  after  a  year's 
probation,  and  upon  admiffion  he  furrendered  eve- 
ry thing  that  he  was  worth  to  the  monaftery,  or  to 
the  poor. 

Thefe  rules  were  fo  much  approved,  that  they 
were  adopted  by  all  the  monks  of  the  Weft.  As 
the  religious  life  of  Benedi£t  began,  fo  it  ended, 
with  thefuperftition  of  the  time.s.  When  he  found 
himfelf  on  the  point  of  death,  he  caufed  himfelf  to 
be  carried  into   the  church,    and   expired    there. 

TJiere 


tat  HistoiiY  dF     TrA.  xriV. 

There  xveve  in  thefe,  ^ni  efpeci-aTIv  in  latfcf  tlfne^, 
many  other  examples  of  this  fuperflition. 

Amoncr  thoTe  who  diflinguiihed  thcmfelves  as 
loundersof  monaffaries  in  this  pei-iod,  were  J.  Gih- 
das  of  Scotland,  and  S.  Columban  from  Ireland. 
Gil  das  was  born  a.  d.  484,  and  preached  in  the 
northern  parts  of  Great  Britain,  then  in  Ireland, 
-whence  he  palled  into  Gaul,  where  he  eftablifhed. 
himfclf  near  the  city  of  Vannes,  and  built  the  ma- 
naftery  which  flill  bears  his  name,  and  of  which  in 
after  times  the  famous  Abelard  was  abbot. 

Columban  went  from  Ireland  to  preach  to  the 
norihern  Pi6ls,  but  before  this  he  ere£ied  a  monaf- 
ttry  at  Dermach  which  became  very  famous,  and 
another  o'  ft  ill  greater  celebrity  at  Uy  or  Her  inthfe 
fiorth  of  Ireland.  In  thefe  monafleries  Eafter  was 
not  celebrated  in  the  manner  of  the  church  of 
Rome.  He  lived  thirty- four  years  after  he  left 
Jreland,  and  died  a.  d.  599. 

S  Gal,  the  companion  of  Columban,  eftablifli- 
cd  a  monafliery  which  was  called  after  his  name  in 
SwifTerland,  and  was  afterwards  very  famous.  The 
abbots  of  it  ere61;id  it  into  a  fovereignty,  which 
continues  to  this  day,  and  it  is  confederated  with 
the  Swifs  cantons.      Sueur,  a.  d.  612. 

The  moft  diftinguiflied  of  the  monks    in  the 
Eafl;   in    this    period    was     Sabas,    the    great   and 
a6live  fupporter  ofthc   Catholic  faith.     He  found- 
ed 


Seg.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  « 

ed  feveral  monafteries  in  Paleftlne,  the  rules  of 
which  he  left  in  writing.  He  was  famous  for  hi? 
aufteriries  and  his  miracles  ;  but  the  truth  of  therfl. 
u  rendered  fufpicious  hy  the  manner  jri,  which, 
they  prerecorded  by  his  panegyrifl  S;.  Cynl,  wh© 
wrote  his  life.    lb.  a.  d.  530. 

Thp  firfl  ipGnaf);ery  ^orwompn,  cabled  in  Eng- 
lipi  mfnncries.  was  founded  in  this  period  by  queen 
Radegondaat  Poitiers.  She  made  her  fifter  Agnes 
the  abbefs,  and  .he  inflitution  was  confirmed  at 
the  fecor.d  council  of  Tours  a.  d.  567,  when  an 
anathema  was  pronounced  againft  any  who  fhould 
leave  the  monaftery,  or  thofe  who  fhould  marry 
any  of  the  women  who  entered  it.  Before  thi? 
many  young  women  had  made  vows  of  chaftity, 
but  they  had  lived  with  their  parents,  attended, 
public  worfhip  in  the  churches,  and  even  received 
yifitgrs,  gnly  diftinguifhing  themfelves  by  a  veil, 
which  was  givers  them  hy  the  bifhop  of  the  place, 

fb.    A.   D.  567. 

Fleury,  in  his  obfervations  on  the  ftate  of 
monkery  in  this  period,  in  which  the  monks 
woiked,  but  did  not  beg,  when  they  were  fubje6t 
to  the  jurifdiftion  of  the  bifhop  of  the  diocefe,  and! 
did  not  make  a  diilin6l  order  of  men,  fays  that 
*'  their  life  was  the  model  of  Chriflian  perfe6lion." 
Vol.  8.  p.  vi.  This  flicws  how  far  his  ideas  were 
fiom  the  genuine  flandaidofChriftianity.  No  doubt 

much 


m  THE  HISTORY  Ol-         Per.  XIV. 

much  more  reafonable  maxims  prevailed  in  this 
period  than  fuch  as  were  adopted  in  later,  and 
more  corrupt,  times.  In  all  the  monafteries  the 
article  of  labour  was  more  or  lefs  attended  to.  At 
the  fecond  council  of  Seville,  a.  d.  619,  the  monks 
were  enjoined  to  work  fix  hours  in  the  day,  and  to 
read  three.  Their  work  was  for  their  own  fubfiftence, 
as  well  as  for  the  poor.  It  was  chiefly,  however, 
in  the  garden,  while  the  flaves  were  employed  in 
the  more  laborious  works  efhufbandry  and  build- 
ing, &c. 

It  is  evident  from  the  accounts  we  have  of  the 
difcipline  ol  monafleries  in  this  period,  that  there 
were  great  diforders  in  many  of  them;  many  per- 
fons  being  admitted  who  were  by  no  means  pre- 
j)ared  for  that  mode  ot  life.  To  correfl;  th'efe  dif- 
orders recourfe  was  had  to  corporal  punifhment  * 
and  among  other  punifhments  that  of  flagellation 
jfeems  to  have  been  moft  common.  In  the  rule  of 
St.  Columban  the  ufual  difcipline  was  fix  flrokes 
of  the  whip  for  light  ofFences,  and  for  others  in  pro- 
portion, as  far  as  two  hundred,  tho'  never  more 
than  twenty-five  at  one  time.  Sometimes  the 
monks  were  enjoined  filence,  or  extraordinary 
falling,  but  very  frequently  the  repetition  of  cer- 
tain pfalms. 

Some  care,  however,  was  taken  to  prevent  the 
rntYodu6tion  of  improper  perfons  into  monafteries', 

and* 


Ssa  IV.  f  HS  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  ^ 

and  more  efpeciallv  nunneries.  At  the  council  of 
Agde  in  A,  D.  506,  women  were  forbidden  to  take 
the  veil  under  forty  years  of  age.  The  emperor 
Maurice  made  a  law  forbidding  foldiers  to  become 
monks,  probably  fuppoling  that  it  ofualiy  arofe 
from  a  defire  to  change  a  laborious  and  hazardous^ 
life  for  an  idle  and  f.  cure  one.  But  pope  Gregory 
did  not  approve  of  the  regulation.  Writing  to 
him  on  the  fubjeft,  he  fays  that  "  by  that  means 
"  he  would  fhut  the  gates  of  heaven  to  many  per- 
"  fons :  for  that  numbers  could  no£  be  faved  with- 
"  out  quitting  the  world  altogether."  This  fhews 
how  prevalent  were  falie  rules  of  Chriftian  duty  in' 
this  period. 

The  number  of  monks  we  have  feen  to  have  been 
very  great  in  the  preceding  periods  of  this  hiftory, 
but  from  the  increafing  fuperftition,  and  the  in- 
creafing  violence,  of  the  times,  which  led  many  to 
retire  from  the  world,  their  numbers  were  more 
confiderable  in  this.  Mention  is  made  of  not  lefs 
than  three  thoufand  and  five  hundred  in  two  lau- 
Tas,  or  places  appendant  to  monafleries  at  Scetis. 
(Fleury  Vol.  8.  p.  243.)  and  it  appears  from  the 
letters  of  pope  Gregory,  that  in  a.  d.  599,  there 
were  near  three  thoufand  monks  in  Rome  only. 

Sacred  as  monafteries  were  generally  confidered 
in  thefe  times,  they  often  fuffered  greatly  from  the 
depredations  of  their  neighbours,    cfpecially  of  the 

Heath- 


64  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  X^V. 

Heathens.  The  monafteries  of  the  Eaft  were  hiid 
\jrafte  in  the  Perfian  war  in  the  time  of  HeracHus, 
and  in  a.  d.  577  the  monaftery  at  mount  Caflin 
tyas  plundered,  and  broken  up  by  the  Lombards. 
As  itionafteries  became  wealthy,  they  were  often 
too  tempting  an  objeQ  to  Chriflian  princes  and 
lords  in  thofe  times.  On  this  fubje6l  we  fhall 
find  many  complaints  in  the  fubfequent  periods  of 
this  hiftory. 

Tho'  M.  Fleury  praifes  the  ftate  of  monkery 
in  this  period,  from  the  monks  not  being  exempt 
ixoxn  epifcopal  jurifdiftion,  it  was  only  foin  ge- 
neral. In  A.  D.  599,  at  the  requefl  of  the  pa- 
triarch Theodore,  who  refigned  the  church  of 
Conflantinople,  the  monaftery  to  which  he  retired 
was  exempted  from  all  ecclefiaftical  jurifdidion, 
except  that  of  the  church  of  Conftantinople.  In 
the  third  council  of  Aries,  a.  d.  461,  affembledto 
determine  a  difpute  between  the  bifhop  oflhedio- 
cefe  and  the  monaftery  of  Lerins,  it  w^s  fettled 
that  the  clergy  and  minifters  of  the  altar  ftiould  be 
ordained  by  the  bifliop;  but  that  the  laity  of  tnc 
monaftery  ftiould  not  be  fubjcft  to  any  jurifdiaion 
befides  that  of  the  abbot. 

Monks,  and  efpscially  thofe  of  the  clerical 
©rder,  were  not  fo  ftriftly  confined  to  their  mo- 
nafteries in  this  period  but  that,  at  the  call  of  the 
prince,  thev  would  quit  them.     For  we  read  that 

Clo- 


Sec.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  65 

Clothaire  demanded  of  his  bifhop  Sulpicius  to  do 
the  duty  of  abbe  in  his  army,  which  impHes  that 
monks  were  ufually  employed  by  him  there. 

That,  in  general,  monafteries  were  well  con- 
ducted in  this  period,  and  favourable  to  fuch  kind 
of  piety  as  was  held  in  veneration  at  this  time,  I 
have  no  doubt.  But  thefe  places  of  retreat  from 
the  world,  did  not  even  then  exclude  ambition, 
and  even  fuch  as  prompted  to  grofs  violence,  efpe- 
ci:4lly  when  perfons  of  rank  were  members  of  them. 
This  is  evident  from  the  following  account  giyea 
by  Fleury  from  Gregory  of  Tours. 

Chrodielde  daughter  of  king  Cherebert,  was 
member  of  the  monaflery  of  the  holy  crofs  in  Poir 
tiers,  when  Lebouere  was  abbefs.  In  order  to 
drive  her  from  the  place,  and  become  abbefs  her- 
felf,  fhe  engaged  in  her  interefi  her  coufin  Bafire, 
daughter  of  king  Chilperic,  and  left  the  monaflery 
with  forty  other  nuns,  notwithftanding  the  endea- 
vours of  bifhop  Merowee  to  detain  them.  The 
complaint  they  made  was  that  they  were  not  treated 
;is  became  the  daughters  of  kings,  but  as  flaves; 
and  they  likewife  accufed  their  abbefs  of  feveral 
crimes.  Having  quitted  the  monaflery,  they  tra- 
velled on  foot  in  the  month  of  February  a.  d.  589, 
and  in  very  bad  weather.  They  were,  however, 
perfuaded  to. wait  till  the  next  fummer  at  Tours, 
where  they  arrived  the  firft  of  March.      Then  ap- 

VoL.  III.  E  plying 


66  s     THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XIV; 

plying  to  king  Gontram,  he  appointed  an  affembiy 
of  bifhops  to  judge  of  the  affair.  They  not  com- 
ing, Chrodielde  and  her  companions  returned  to 
Poitiers,  and  aflembhng  a  company  of  robbers, 
and  debauched  people,  fortified  themfelves  in  the 
church  of  St.  Hilary,  and  declared  they  would  not 
return  to  the  nunnery  till  the  abbefs  was  expelled. 
So  far  were  they  from  paying  any  regard  to  the 
remonftrances  of  the  bifhops  in  the  neighbourhood; 
who  pronounced  a  fentence  of  excommunication 
againft  them,  that  the  banditti,  entering  the  church 
in  which  they  were  aflembled,  knocked  them  down 
on  the  pavement,  and  broke  the  heads  of  Tome 
o^her  clergymen  who  were  prefent  on  the  occafion; 
fo  that  they  were  obliged  to  fly  as  well  as  they 
could. 

After  this  Chrodielde  feized  upon  the  lands  of 
the  monaftery,  threatening  that  if  fhe  could  get  in- 
to the  place,  fhe  would  throw  the  abbefs  over  the 
wall.  The  rigour  of  the  next  winter  obliged  thefe 
rebellious  nuns  to  feparate,  when  Chrodielde  and 
JBafire  quarrelled,  the  latter  faying  that  fhe  was  a 
princefs  as  well  as  herfelf. 

The  year  following,  in  a.  d.  590,  Chrodielde; 
always  furrounded  with  her  troop  of  banditti,  or- 
dered them  to  enter  the  monaftery  by  night,  and 
drag  the  abbefs  out.  She,  having  the  gout,  could 
only  get  herfelf  conveyed  into  the  church,    and 

thither 


Sec.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  67 

thither  the  banditti  followed  her  with  torches  and 
arms  ;  but  fome  friends  of  the  abbefs  extinguifliing 
the  torches,  they  could  not  find  her.  The  next 
morning,  however,  they  feized  her,  and  put  her 
in  prifon  ;  and  the  night  following  they  plundered 
the  monailery,  leaving  nothing  that  they  could 
carry  away. 

Being  again  threatened  by  the  bifhops,  Chro- 
diclde  again  affembled  her  banditti,  and  ordered 
them  to  kill  the  abbefs,  if  any  attempt  fhould  be 
made  to  refcue  her  by  force.  However,  fhe  was 
refcued,  and  took  refuge  in  the  church  of  St.  Hi- 
lary. But  the  feditioa  continued,  and  fome 
murders  were  committed  even  before  the  fhrine  of 
the  holy  crofs. 

At  length,  by  the  interference  of  the  princes, 
thefe  banditti  were  overpowered,  and  brought  to 
punifhment,  fome  having  their  hands  cut  off,  and 
others  their  nofes.  And  the  biOiops  beiiior  once 
more  affembled  on  this  occafion,  all  the  complaints 
of  Chrodielde  and  Bafire  were  declared  to  be 
groundlefs.  Yet  when  they  were  ordered  to  make 
their  fubmiffion,  and  were  threatened  with  excom- 
munication  till  they  fhould  do  i*-,  they  haughtily 
refufed,  and  (liil  threatened  to  kill  the  abbefs. 
The  bilhops,  therefore,  pronounced  the  fentence 
of  excommunication.  This  meafure  had,  at  length, 
the  defired  effea  ;  for  both  thefe  ladies  made  their 

E  2  fub« 


6j  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV; 

fubmiflion  at  the  council  of  Metz,  and  obtained 
abfolution.  This  hiftory  will  ferve  to  give  fome 
idea  of  the  diforders  of  thofe  times,  with  refpeft 
to  civil  as  well  as  religious  matters, 

Aufterity  being  now  confidered  as  effential  to 
Chriftian  perfedlion,  feveral  perfons  went  far  be- 
yond the  monks  in  this  refpeft;  and  as  a  view  of 
the  extravagancies  of  the  human  mind  has  its  ufe, 
I  fhall  in  this  place  relate  fome  inftances  of  it  that 
occurred  in  this  period ;  obferving,  however,  that 
I  do  not  vouch  for  the  literal  truth  of  every  part  of 
the  narrative,  tho'  feemingly  pretty  well  attefted, 
confidering  that  the  accounts  are  from  friends. 

The  mofl  antient  ot  thefe  lovers  of  mortifica- 
tion that  1  fhall  mention  is  James  the  Syrian.  He 
lived  on  a  mountain,  at  a  fmall  diftance  from  the 
city  of  Cyr,  well  known  by  Theodoret  having 
been  bifhop  of  that  place.  He  paffed  all  his  time 
in  the  open  air,  expofed  to  all  the  inclemency  of 
the  weather,  fometimes  burning  in  the  fun,  and 
fometimes  found  buried  under  the  fnow.  Under 
his  clothes  he  had  heavy  chains  of  iron.  He  did 
not  make  any  ufe  of  fire,  even  to  drefs  his  viQuals, 
which  were  only  pulfe  and  water. 

Another  was   Baradat,     who  after  living  fome 
time  in  a  hut,  afcended  a  rock,  where  he  fhuthim- 
felf  up  in  a  kind  of  box,  in  which  he  could  juft 
fland  upright,  but  expofed  to  the  weather.     Af- 
ter- 


StC.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  issf 

terwards  he  lived  in  the  open  air,  with  his  hands 
continually  ftreiched  towards  heaven,  and  fo  co- 
vered with  a  Ikin,  that  only  his  eyes  and  nofe 
Were  vilible. 

But  the  moft  celebrated  perfon  in  this  way 
was  Simeon,  furnamed  the  Siyliie,  of  whom  a 
flight  mention  was  made  in  the  preceding  part  of 
this  work,  and  who  got  that  appellation  from  living 
on  a  pillar  at  a  confiderable  diftance  from  the 
ground.  After  living  two  years  in  one  monaftery, 
and  ten  in  another,  where  he  went  beyond  all  his 
companions  in  his  aufterities,  eating  only  twice  a 
week,  and  diftinguifhed  by  other  mortifications, 
fome  of  which  are  without  the  bounds  of  credibi- 
lity, efpecially  his  pretended  fall  of  forty  days,  in 
imitation  of  Mofes  and  Chrift  (which  it  is,  how- 
ever, faid  that  he  repeated  every  year  for  twenty 
years  together)  he  went  to  pafs  his  whole  time 
upon  a  pillar,  at  firfl  fix  feet  high,  eating  only 
once  a  week,  and  not  at  all  during  lent.  He  had 
no  covering  but  a  Ikin,  which  reached  to  his  feet. 
Here  he  was  much  reformed  to,  and  even  by  the 
emperors  Marcian  and  Leo,  and  by  the  king  of 
Perfia.  Thus  he  lived  thirty-fix  years  on  columns 
of  different  altitudes,  the  laft  of  which  was  thirty- 
fix  cubits  high,  and  died  in  a.  d.  462,  at  the 
age  o£.fixty-nine, 

^  9       .  After 


fp  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIM. 

^fter  the  death  of  this  Simeon,  who  properly 
cx>mes  within  the  former  period  of  this  hiftory,  one 
Daniel  undertook  to  follow  his  example.  He  was 
born  near  Samofata,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  year^ 
retired  to  a  neighbouring  monallery.  But  accom- 
panying his  brother  in  a  journey  to  Antioch,  he 
faw  Simeon  on  his  pillar;  '  and  being  permitted  to 
go  up  to  him,  he  received  his  benedidion.  On 
his  death  he  fixed  himfelf  on  a  fimilar  pillar  at 
Anaplus,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Euxine  fea.  The 
fituation  of  this  place,  fubje6l  to  fevere  florms  of 
wind  and  rain,  made  his  mode  of  life  a  harder  dif- 
ciphne  than  that  of  his  predeceiTor.  One  winter 
he  was  nearly  carried  away  by  the  wind.  It  drip- 
ped him  of  his  clothes,  and  he  remained  almoft 
clead  with  cold.  Notwithilanding  this,  he  lived 
in  this  manner  to  the  age  of  eighty.  In  this  fitua- 
tion he  was  ordained  a  priefl  by  Gennadius  pa- 
triarch of  Conftantinople,  who  went  up  to  him  on 
his  pillar  to  give  him  the  communion.  The  em- 
peror Leo  often  vifited  him,  and  fhewed  him  great 
refpeft.  He  even  built  a  monallery  for  his  dif- 
ciples  near  to  his  pillar,  and  a  place  to  receive 
thofe  who  came  to  vifit  him,  and  alfo  an  oratory 
in  which  to  dcpofit  the  remains  of  Simeon,  which 
Daniel  had  got  tranflated  from  Antioch.  Gubar, 
king  of  the  Lazi,  having  come  to  renew  his  alliance 
with  the  Romans,  the  emperor  took  him  to  Da- 
niel, 


Sec.  ly.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ti, 

niel,  as  the  mofl  extraordinary  perfon  in  his  em- 
pire, when  the  king  prollrated  himfelf  with  tears 
before  the  column,  and  the  StyUte  was  made  ar- 
bitrator of  the  terms  of  the  treaty.  This  prince 
never  afterwards  fent  any  meflage  to  Conftan- 
tinople,  but  he  defired  the  prayers  of:  Daniel. 

Near  Egina  in  Cilicia  there  were  two  flylites, 
one  a  Catholic,  and  the  other  a  Severian,  and 
one  Valiiliac  lived  upon  a  pillar  for  fome  time 
near  Treves  in  Gaul ;  but  fo  feverely  did  he  fuf- 
fer  from  the  cold,  that  feveral  times  his  nails  fell 
off.  At  length,  however,  he  was  perfuaded  by 
the  biOiops  of  the  neighbourhood  to  come  down 
Irom  his  pillar,  and  live  in  a  monaflery  with  his 
dirc:pies  below.  This  was  the  only  example  of 
Jiyiitifm  in  the  Weft. 

Some  mon  afteries,  however,  in  this  period 
were  fufl&ciently  fevere  in  their  difcipline.  The 
nuns  of  La  Baume  in  France  were  fo  ftri6lly  con- 
fined, that  they  never  went  out  but  into  the  church 
yard ;  and  tho'  any  of  them  had  a  fon  or  a  brother 
in  the  monaftery  at  Lauconne,  which  was  very 
near  to  them,  they  never  faw  them,  nor  heard  any 
thing  more  of  them  than  if  they  had  been  dead. 

Aurelian,    who  founded  a  monaftery  at  Aries 
in  A.  D.  548,  ordered  that  his  monks  ftiould  never 
go  out  of  the  monaftery,  or  receive  any  laymen  ex- 
cept in  the  parioir.       Women  they   could   never 
.  E  4  fee 


rs  J^HE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

fee  at  all.  They  were  not  even  allowed  to  fpeak 
to  one  another  in  private.  The  eating  of  flcfh 
was  forbidden,  but  fowls  were  allowed  to  the  Tick 
and  fifh  to  all  on  certain  days.  Here  we  firll  find, 
fays  Fleury,  a  dillindion  between  the  flefh  of 
fowls  and  grofler  meat. 


\ 


SECTION  V. 

Of  the  Jiate    of  Heathenifm,    Judaifm,    and  va- 
rious iSe^s   of  Chrflians   in  this  Period, 

J.  HO'  the  emperors  had  now  for  a 
long  time  been  Chriflians,  there  were  many  re- 
mains of  paganifm  within  the  bounds  of  the  Roman 
empire,  as  appears  by  the  laws  and  regulations 
that  were  made  to  fupprcfs  them.  Caefarius  preach- 
ing againft  the  vices  ot  the  times,  a.  p.  506,  par- 
ticularly enlarges  on  the  obfervance  of  auguries, 
|;he  honours  paid  to  trees  and  fountains,  and  oiher 
remains  of  paganilm.  Thcfe  things  were  alfo  for- 
bidden by  the  fourth  council  of  Orleans,  a.  d. 
541.  Alfo  fcveral  pagan  cufioms  having  been 
kept  up  on  the  Chriftian  fcftivals,  which  had  been 
inflituted  to  take  place  of  them,  they  were  forbid- 
-den  by  the  council  of  Tours,  a.  d.  566,  as  they  alfo 
jvere  at  the  council  cf  Toledo,   a.  d.  589. 

The 


Stc.  V.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  y| 

The  oppofition  which  the  Jews  had  made  to 
the  propagation  of  Chriftianity  was  never  forgot- 
ten or  forgiven;  and  the  Chriftians  now  having 
the  power,  cruelly  retaliated  upon  them,  tho' 
there  were  fome  inflances  in  which  the  Jews  ftill 
exerted  what  power  they  had  in  the  perfecution  of 
Chriftians.  In  a.  d.  522  Dunaan,  a  Jewifh 
prince  of  the  Homerites,  cruelly  perfecuted  the 
Chriftians  in  his  dominions;  and  on  taking  the 
place,  the  inhabitants  of  which  were  all  Chriftians, 
he  burned  all  the  monks  and  nuns.  But  the  year 
following  he  was  attacked  by  Elefbaan,  a  chrif- 
tian  king  of  Ethiopia,  affifted  by  the  Greek  empe- 
ror; when  he  was  taken,  and  put  to  death,  to- 
gether with  his  principal  relations.  In  a.  d.  610, 
the  Jews  made  a  tumult  at  Antioch,  and  killed 
the  patriarch  Anaftafius. 

But  the  feverities  exercifed  upon  the  Jews 
were  far  more  numerous  than  thofe  that  were  exer- 
cifed by  them,  and  both  the  Romans  and  the 
barbarian  Chriftians  were  equally  hoftile  to  them. 
The  emperor  Heraclius  drove  all  the  Jews  from 
Jerufalem,  and  ordered  them  not  to  approach 
within  three  miles  of  it.  In  a.  d.  556  St.  Ferreol 
drove  from  the  city  of  Qzes,  and  all  the  diocefe, 
the  Jews  who  would  not  become  Chriftians.  At 
the  council  of  Toledo,  a.  d.  589,  Jews  were  ex- 
cluded from  all  public  offices,    forbidden  to  have 

E  5  chriftian 


y^  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

ichriftian    flaves,  or  to  marry    chriftian    women. 
Sifebat,   king  of  the  Vifigoths  in  Spain,  is  faid  to 
have  converted  all  the  Jews  in  his  dommions,   ex- 
cept   fuch  as  fled  into  France,  ivhich   fufficiently 
implies  that  force  was    ufed   in  their   converfion. 
Ricared,  another  king  in  Spain,  made  ar;  ordinance 
againft  the  Jews  ;  and  being  offered  a  great  fum 
by  them,   in  order  to  obtain  the  repeal  of  it,  he 
was  commended  tor  his  refufal  of  u  by  pope  Gre- 
gory ;    and  yet  this  Gregory  torbad  the  ufe  of  force 
in  the  converfion  of  Jews.     In  Sicily,  however,  he 
promifed  them  a  diminution  of  the  rent  they  paid 
to  the  fee  of  Rome  if  they  would  become   chrilli* 
ans.      He  acknowledged  on  this  occafion  that  thefe 
converfions  might  not  be  very  fincere ;  but  he  faid 
the  children    would  by  this   means   be  baptiz.,'d, 
and  have  abetter  difpofition.      In  France  and   a- 
ther  places,  force  was  ufed  in  the  converfion  of  the 
Jews,  and  they  were  banifiied,  if  they  refufedto  be 
J)aptized, 

But  little  mention  is  made  of  Unitarians  in  the 
hiftory  of  this  period.  But  it  is  evident  from  the 
remarkable  paflfage  in  Facundus,  quoted  by  me  in 
the  Hijlory  of  early  opinions  concerning  C'hrijl,  vol, 
3'  P-  334'  '^^^  '^^y  "^tvG  numerous  among  the 
common  people  in  the  time  of  Juftinian.  They 
who   were  called  Bonojians  were  unitarian?,  and 

they 


Sec.  V.  THE  CHRISTIAN   CHURCH.  fi 

they  exifledin  the  time  of  pope  Gregory.  This 
pope,  in  giving  directions  in  what  manner  to  receive 
heretics,  fays  that  if  they  had  been  baptized  in  the 
name  ot  the  trinity,  they  fhould  be  received  with- 
out baptifm,  on  their  limple  profeflion  of  the  Ca- 
tholic faith ;  but  that  the  Bonofcans,  who  did  not 
believe  that  Jefus  Chrift  was  God,  muft  be  re- 
baptized.*  I  have  obferved  before  that  though  the 
nations  that  invaded  the  Roman  empire  are  gener- 
ally fliied  Arians,  they  were  not  univerfally  fo. 
For  according  to  Gregory  of  Tours,  ChildeberC 
king  of  France  was  a  Photinian.  And  ChiJperic 
wrote  a  treatife  in  defence  of  Saballianifm,  which 
he  fhewed  to  Gregory  and  the  other  bifhops,  hop- 
ing to  have  their  approbation  of  it ;  but  not  fuc- 
peeding  in  this,  he  fupprefled  it.  Sueur,  a.   d.  583 

The  Novatians  were  not  yet  wholly  extinft. 
For  Eulogius  bilhop  of  Alexandria,  who  died  a. 
D.  600,  wrote  againfl  the  Novatians  and  other  he- 
retics. 

The    Pelagian  controverfy  was  never  wholly 
dropped  from  the  time  of  the  Auftin  to  the  refor- 
mation. 

*  Bonofus  was  bifliop  of  a  church  in  Macedonia. 
He  held  the  fame  fentiments  with  Photinus  ;  and  his 
followers  and  thofe  of  Photinus  were  numerous  in 
Spain.  Baronius  fays  that  between  the  Prifcillianifts 
and  the  Arians  the  Catholics  were  a  fmall  number, 
bearing  no  proportion  to  the  heretics.  RQbinscn^  p.  213. 


W  THE  HISTORY  OF      -  Pxr.  XIV. 

mation.  The  more  rigid  dof^rines  of  Auftin  wer« 
always  obje6led  to  by  many  perfons  in  Gaul,  and 
ji  council  ot  bifliops  joined  in  the  condemnation  of 
them.  At  a  council  m  Arks,  one  Lucidus,  a  prieft, 
was  obliged  to  letraCt  them,  particularly  the  follow- 
ing viz.  that  they  who  penffied  had  not  the  power 
ito  lave  themfelves,  that  Chnit  did  not  die  for  all, 
and  that  God  predeflinated  any  perfon  to  damna- 
tion. 

At  the  council  of  Orange,  a.  d.  528,  it  was 
decreed  that  the  fin  of  Adahi  alFefted  all  his  polle- 
rity,  fo  that  every  thing  that  is  good  in  man  comes 
from  the  grace  of  God,  and  not  from  nature,  but 
that  all  who  are  baptized  can,  and  ought,  by  the 
cooperation  of  Jefus  Chriil  to  accomphfh  every 
thing  that  is  neceffary  to  his  falvation,  and  that  no 
perlon  is  predeflinated  to  evil  by  God.  Genna- 
dius,  a  pricfl  of  Marfeilles,  and  a  confiderable 
writer,  did  not  approve  of  the  do6lrine  of  Auftin 
concerning  grace.  Fulgentius  diftinguifhcd  be- 
tweeti  fin  and  the  puniflimcnt  of  it  with  refpeft  to 
God ;  faying  that  it  was  the  latter  only  that  was 
jpredellinated,  tho'  the  former  was  forefeen. 

Pelagianifm  flourifhed  much  in  Dalmatia,  and 
I*icenum  in  Italy,  which  was  oppofite  to  it.  There 
an  old  man,  of  the  name  of  Seneca,  taught  that 
there  was  no  fuch  thing  as  original  fin,  that  infants 
dying  unbaptized  would  not  be  damned,  and  that 

man 


Sec.  V.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  tt 

man  by  the  ufe  of  his  own  free  will  might  be  faved. 
He  faid  that  the  clergy  and  monks  might  live  with 
nuns,  having  nothing  to  tear  if  they  lived  inno- 
cently. This  old  man  was  brought  before  pope 
Gelafius,  but  the  arguments  of  his  holinefs  mad^ 
no  impreflion  upon  him. 

Notwithftanding  all  the  attempts  that  had  been 
made  by  argumentation,  and  (what  had  unhap.. 
pily  been  often  had  recourfe  to)  by  force,  the 
Donati/ls  flill  continued  in  Africa.  Pope  Gregory, 
writing  to  a  bifhop  of  that  country,  complains 
that  that  fe£l  was  much  increafed,  and  that  they 
not  only  rebaptized  many  Cathohcs,  but  expelled 
bilhops  from  their  fees ;  fo  that  this  pope  wrote  to 
defire  that  the  laws  might  be  enforced  againft  them. 
However,  the  orders  of  the  emperor  Maurice  to 
that  purpofe  were  ill  executed.  There  were  even 
of  the  clergy  who  fuffered  their  children,  or  flaves 
to  be  rebaptized  by  them. 

Perfecution  had  alfo  failed  to  exterminate  the 
Prijcillianijh.  At  a  council  of  Braga,  a.  d.  563, 
decrees  were  made  againft  the  remainder  of  this 
feft.  One  ot  the  priefts  of  Gregory  of  Tours  de- 
nied the  refurredtion,  which  proves  that  he  had 
embraced  their  opinions.  And  by  the  permiffion 
to  abftain  from  flelh  and  wine,  in  the  rules 
that  Ifidore  compofcd  for  the  regulation  of  his 
monaftery,  it  appears  that  there  were  Prifcillianifts 

at 


yft  THE    HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV, 

at  that  time  iii  the  country,  and  that  their  pre- 
judices were  refpefted. 

That  EiUychianifm  was  far  from  being  fupprefled 
Ky  the  council  of  Chalcedon,  we  have  fufficiently 
feen  in  a  preceding  feflion,  arid  Nrjlorianifm  was 
in  fome  meafure  revived  by  thofe  who  dcfcndeci 
the  three  chapters,  tho'  it  was  peculiarly  olFen- 
five  to  the  church  at  Conftantinople.  In  order  to 
vex  the  emperor  Hcraclius,  Chofroes  king  of  f*er- 
fia  compelled  all  the  Chriflians  in  his  dominions 
to  embrace  that  fe6l. 

Befides  the  continuance,  or  revival,  of  old 
fedls  in  this  period,  we  find  one  new  one,  and 
What  was'  peculiar  to  it,  the  founder,  as  he  was 
called,  of  it  had  been  long  dead.  This  was  that 
of  the  Origenijh  ;  the  numerous  writings  of  Origen 
continuing  to  be  read,  and  admired  by  many, 
efpecially  among  the  monks,  who  had  leifure  and 
a  turn  for  fpeculation.  It  was  during  the  reign 
of  Juflinian  that  the  controverfy  on  this  fubje6t 
broke  out,  rhe  peculiar  opinions  of  Origen  being 
embraced  by  the  monks  of  Paleftine,  at  the  head 
of  whom  was  Nonnus,  This  doflrine  fpreading 
into  many  monafteries,  complaint  was  made  of  it 
to  the  emperor,  who  joined  in  the  condemnation 
of  it.  It  confi  fled  of  fix  heads,  whether  jufily  im- 
puted to  Origen  or  not,  viz.  "  that  the  Father  is 
*'  greater  than  the  fon,    and  the  fon  than  the  holy 

"  fpirit ; 


Sec.  V.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  f* 

•*  fpirit ;  that  God  could  create  only  a  certaia 
*'  number  of  fpirits,  and  a  certain  quantity  of 
*' matter;  that  the  fouls  of  men  preexifled,  and 
*•  were  confined  to  bodies  for  a  punifhment ;  thae' 
**  the  fun  moon  and  flars  are  animated;  that,  at 
"  the  refurre6lion,  the  human  body  will  be  of  a 
"  round  figure  ;  that  future  punifhment  will  not 
"  be  eternal,  and  that  even  that  of  the  dzemons 
"  will  have  an  end."  The  patriarch  of  Conflan- 
tinople,  and  the  pope,  joined  in  the  condemna- 
tion of  thefe  and  fome  other  errors,  efpecially  that 
of  "the  preexiftence  of  the  foul  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
"  that  his  body  was  formed  in  the  womb  of  the 
"  virgin  before  its  union  with  the  logos,  and  that 
•'  in  a  future  age  Chrift  will  be  crucified  for  the 
"'  daemons,  as  he  has  been  for  men." 

Nonnus  and  his  party  were  fo  much  ofFended 
at  this  condemnation  of  the  Origenifts,  that  they 
fepafated  from  the  communion  of  the  Catholics ; 
and  having  induced  the  patriarch  to  acknov/ledge 
that  anathemas  not  agreeable  to  God  were  null, 
they  returned  to  their  monalleries.  But  retaining 
their  zeal  for  their  opinions,  they  preached  pub- 
lickly ;  and  the  controverfy  between  them  and  their 
opponents  growing  warm,  they  came  to  blows  in 
the  city  of  Jerufalem,  and  in  the  monaftcry  itfelf, 
on  which  occafion  one  Theodulus,  a  Catholic,  re- 
ceived 


80 


THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 


ceived  a  wound  of  which  he  died.  In  the  end  all 
thefa  monks  voluntarily  or  otherwife  declared 
themfelves  Origenifts,  and  got  poffefTion  of  all 
the  monalleries  in  the  neighbourhood. 

After  the  death  cf  Nonnus  the  Originifts  were 
divided  into  two  fefts.  The  chief  of  one  of  them 
was  Ifidore.  and  Theodore  of  Cappadocia,  who 
was  pov/erful  at  court,  vas  at  the  head  of  the 
other.*  Ifidor  finding  that  he  could  not  refift  the 
power  of  Theodore,  joined  himfelf  to  Conon  abbo^ 
of  the  laure  of  Sabas, 

.While  preparation  was  making  for  the  council 
5h  the  fubje6l  of  tb^  three  chapters,  and  when  the 
proper  bufinefs  of  that  council  was  concluded,  the 
emperor,  having  been  urged  by  the  deputies  of  the 
patriarch  of  Jerufalem,  fent  to  the   bifhops  an  ac- 
count of  the  errors  of  Origen,  as  maintained  by  the 
monks,  in  which  he  faj'S,   "  We  exhort  you  to  af- 
•'  femble,  and  read  carefully  this  account,  and  to 
condemn  each  article  of  it,  with  the  impious  Ori- 
gen, and  all  thofe  who  fhall  be  of  the  fame  fen- 
*'  timent."     The  bifhops,  obedient,  as  ufual,    to 
the  wifbes  of  the  emperor,  unanimoufly  condemn- 
ed Origen  and  his  followers.     Theodore  of  Casfa^ 
ria  would  have   prevented  this  condemnation,  but 
he  had  loll  much  of  his  credit,  after  the  death  of 
the   emprefs  Theodora.     The  monks  of  the  new 
laura  of  St.  Sabas,  not  approving  of  this  condem- 
nation 


Sfcc.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  at 

nation  of  Origen,  feparated  from  the  communion 
of  the  church,  and  in  confequence  of  it  ^ere  ba- 
nilhed  from  the  province* 

Gregory,  afterwards  pope,  b^ing  at  Conftanti- 
nople,  had  a  difpute  with  Eutychius,  then  reflo^ 
red  to  the  church  of  Conftantinople,  who  retaining 
fome  remains  of  Origenifm,  maintained  that  after 
th^  refurrefilion,  the  body  of  Chrifl  was  impalpa- 
ble. Thefe  two  prelates  not  being  able  to  agree, 
Gregory  refrained  from  communicating  with  Eu- 
tychius.  On  this  the  Emperor  Tiberius  fummon- 
ed  them  before  him,  and  thought  of  burning  the 
book  of  Eutychius  on  the  fubjeft  ;  but  prefently 
after  the  patriarch  died.  Hbwever,  as  he  declar- 
ed in  dying,  that  he  expefted  to  rife  again  in  thai 

■flepi,  it  was  fuppofed  that  he  had  changed  his  opi- 
nion. 


SECTION  VI. 

Vj  the  Frogrefs  of  Chrijlianity  in  this  Period, 


\^{ 


'ORRUPT  as  Chriftianlty  was  now 
become,  it  made  fome  ptogrefs  in  this  period,  but 
ftot  by  the  fairefl  means.  The  apoftles  and  pri- 
mitive Chriftians  never  addreffed  themfelves  in  the 
firft  inftance  to  princes,  but  to  thofe  perfons  in  the 
middle  cjaffes  of  life  to  whom  they  had  the  eafieft 
Vol.  III.  F  accefs^ 


^  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

aiccefs,  and  on  whom  they  thought  their  argu- 
ments were  likely  to  have  a  good  effeft.  But  in 
this  period,  and  ever  after,  the  popes  and  em- 
perors applied  in  the  firfl:  inftance  to  kings,  and 
other  perfons  in  power  ;  and  thefe  being  gained, 
fear  or  intereft  brought  over  thofe  who  were  fub- 
jeft  to  them. 

Juflinian  perfuaded  the  king  of  the  Heruli,  and 
alfo  a  fon  of  the  kmg  of  the  Huns,  to  embrace 
Chriflianity  ;  but  the  latter  was  put  to  death  by 
his  father  for  it.  In  one  cafe  the  refentment  of 
the  people  againft  their  king  operated  to  produce 
the  fame  efiPedt.  In  a.  d.  542,  the  Abages,  a 
people  inhabiting  near  mount  Caucafus,  embraced 
Chriflianity,  becaufe  their  king  ufed  to  take  beau- 
tiful children  from  their  parents,  and  make  therri 
eunuchs,  in  order  to  fell  them ;  and  this  pradice 
was  forbidden  by  Juflinian. 

The   Axumites,    an   Ethiopian   nation,    alfo 

embraced    the   Chriftian    religion,    on   their  con* 

quering  the  Homerites  in  Arabia,  whofe  king  had 

put  to  death  fome    Chriflians  who  went  thro'  his 

country  to,  trade   in  Ethiopia.       After   this   their 

king  fent  to    Juflinian  for   clergy   to  inflru6l   the 

people ;  and  he  giving  them  the  choice  of  a  bifhop, 

they     took    John   of   the   church   of  Alexandria. 

Naaman,  an  Arab  chief,   was  converted  to  Chrif- 

tianity 


Sec, VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

tianity  about  the  year   a.  d.   593,    but   in   whae 
manner  this  was  brought  about  is  not  faid. 

The  Sardinians  were  chiefly  pagans  in  the 
time  of  pope  Gregory.  He  ordered  that  if  any 
peafant  belonging  to  the  church  ftiould  not  be  con- 
verted he  fhould  be  taxed  fo  high  that  he  fhould 
be  compelled  to  it; 

St.  Amand  procured  orders  from  Dagobert 
king  of  the  Franks  to  compel  the  people  about 
Ghent  to  be  baptized,  which  Fleury  fays  was  the 
firll  example  of  compulfory  converfion  with  refpedi 
to  the  pagansj  tho'  it  had  been  ufed  with  refpecl 
to  the  Jews,  Vol.  8.  p.  292.  This  Dagobert 
ordered  all  his  fubjeds  to  be  baptized,  tho'  pope 
Gregory  Iiad  faid  that  all  converfions  fhould  be 
voluntary'.  St.  Amand  met  with  much  difficulty 
in  his  undertaking,  being  infulted  by  the  women 
and  peafants. 

The  converfion  of  the  Saxons  in  Endand  beinsr 
more  interefting  to  thofe  for  whom  this  hiftory 
is  principally  written,  I  fhall  dwell  a  little  longer 
on  the  circumflances  of  it.  It  is  faid  that  Gre- 
gory, afterwards  pope,  feeing  fome  handfomc 
flaves  expofed  to  fale  at  Rome,  inquired  of  what 
country  they  were,  and  being  informed  that  they 
were  from  England,  he  expreiled  his  admiration 
of  their  perfons,  as  not  Angli,  but  angcli,  not 
Englifh  but  angels,  and  alfo  his  concern  that  a  na- 

F  2  tiojfx 


m  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XIV; 

tion  fo  well  formed  in  body  fhould  not  have  their 
minds  enlightened  with  the  knowledge  of  the  gof- 
pel,  but  remain  under  the  power  of  the  devil ;  and 
as  foon  as  he  had  an  opportunity,  he  fent  Auftin 
the  monk  to  attempt  their  converfion.  This^  was 
in  A.  D.  595. 

Auftin  and  his  companions,  fo  the  number  of 
about  forty,  landed  in  the  ifle  of  Thonet  in  a.  d, 
597,  about  a  century  after  the  arrival  of  the  Saxons 
in  Britain,  when  they  were  received  by  Bertha, 
the  wife  of  Ethelbert  king  of  Kent,  and  daughter 
of  Cherebert  king  of  France.  She  being  a  Chrif- 
tian  had  ftipulated  for  the  free  exercife  of  her  reli- 
gion, and  accordingly  had  brought  with  her  a 
bifhop  of  the  name  of  Levidard.  The  king  having 
received  thefe  miffionaries  in  the  open  air,  and  al- 
lowed them  to  refide  in  his  capital  city,  which 
was  Canterbury,  they  entered  in  a  folemn  procef- 
fion.  By  their  ftrid  lives  they  foon  converted  ma- 
ny of  the  inhabitants,  and  at  length  the  king  him- 
felf,  who  gave  them  funds  for  the  endowment  of  an 
epifcopal  church.  Auftin  going  to  France  Was 
ordained  bifhop  of  England  at  Aries,  and  return- 
ing to  England  baptized  more  than  ten  thoufand 
at  thefeftival  of  Chriftmasin  A.  0,597.  He  then 
'fent  to  acquaint  the  pope  with  the  fuccefs  of  his- 
mifhon. 

In' 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  8^ 

In  order  to  draw  the  Saxons  to  the  chriftian 
churches,  Gregory  advifed  Auflin  to  make  ufe  of 
the  heathen  temples,  and  even  their  feflivals ;  but 
inflead  of  facrificing  to  demons,  to  kill  the  beafts 
as  ufual,  and  eat  the  flelh  in  thanksgiving  to  God  ; 
that  "  by  leaving  them,"  as  he  faid,  "  thefe  fen- 
*'  fible  joys,  he  might  more  eafily  infinuate  into 
*'  their  minds  the  joys  of  eternity."  This,  he 
faid,  Ihould  be  done  more  particularly  on  the  an- 
niverfaries  ot  ihe  dedication  of  churches,  and  th® 
feflivals  of  the  martyrs. 

Auflin  found  the  antient  Britons,  who  were 
Chnftians,  not  at  all  difpofed  to  conform  to  the 
ufiges  of  the  church  of  Rome.  They  celebrated 
Eafler  on  the  14th  day  of  the  moon,  and  they  ad- 
miniflered  baptifm  in  fome  different  way.  He 
had  two  folemn  conferences  v/ith  their  bifhops  on 
the  fubje6l,  but  he  could  not  make  any  impreffion 
upon  them. 

Auflin  not  being  able  to  prevail  upon  thefe 
antient  Britifh  Chriflians  to  acknowledge  the  fu- 
premacy  of  the  church  of  Rome,  and  conform  to 
its  ritual,  excited  a  cruel  perfecution  ot  them  by 
means  of  the  king  of  Northumberland,  who  was 
induced  by  the  king  of  Kent  to  fend  an  army  into 
Wales ;  when  the  hiflorian  fays  that  twelve  hundred 
of  them  were  crowned  with  martyrdom,  Sueur, 
A.  p.  600. 

F  I  The 


9f%  THE  HISTORY  Ol'        Pur.  XIV. 

The  converfion  ot  the  other  Saxons  in  Eng- 
land was,  in  general,  brought  about  in  a  manner 
fimilar  to  this  by  Auftin,  the  kings  being  gained 
in  the  firft  place,  and  frequently  by  means  of  their 
wives.  T'hus  Edelburge,  a  daughter  of  the  king 
of  Kent,  marrying  the  king  of  Northumberland, 
introduced  the  ChrifHan  faith  into  that  part  of  the 
country. 


SECTION    VII. 

The   Hijiory  of  Perfecution  in  this  Period, 


I 


-N  the  preceding  periods  of  this  Iliftory 
we  have  feen  the  beginning  of  the  accomplifhment 
of  our  Saviour's  prediftion,  that  he  came  not  to 
fend  peace  on  the  earth,  hut  a /word.  After  the 
ceffation  of  pagan  perfecution  by  the  emperors  be- 
coming Chriftians,  it  was  refumed  by  the  Chrifli- 
ans  themfelves  in  the  time  of  Conftantine.  It  has 
continued  with  more  or  lefs  violence  to  this  day, 
and  will  continue  till  the  complete  downfall  of 
Antichrift,  or  that  power,  temporal  or  fpiritual, 
jvhich  is  contrary  to  that  kingdom  of  peace  and 
righteoufnefs,  which  will  be  finally  eflabiilhed  by 
the  univerfal  prevalence  of  the  genuine  gofpel  of 

Chrift. 

Ths 


5EC.VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  §7 

The  fevere  edi£ls  of  Conflantine  and  Theo- 
dofius  being  continued,  the  particulars  under  this 
head  that  deferve  to  be  recited,  as  new,  are  nod 
many.  The  emperor  Leo  ordered  that  no  perfon 
fhould  a6t  as  an  advocate  in  any  tribunal,  but  a 
Catholic.  Pope  Gelahus  banifhed  fome  Mani- 
cheans  from  Rome.  Juftinian  took  from  the  he- 
retics all  their  churches,  and  gave  them  to  the  Ca- 
tholics, in  the  third  year  of  his  reign.  He  alfa 
confifcated  their  property,  as  he  did  that  of  the 
pagans,  allowing  them  three  months  for  their  con- 
veriion.  The  churches  of  the  Arians  were  very- 
rich,  and  many  poor  perfons,  even  of  the  Catho- 
lics, were  maintained  out  of  them.  On  this  feveral, 
out  of  defpair,  put  an  end  to  their  lives,  and  fom* 
Montanifls,  fhutting  themfelves  up  in  their 
churches,  and  fetting  fire  to  them,  burned  them- 
felves along  with  them.  The  feverity  of  this  em- 
peror to  the  Samaritans  made  them  revolt,  and 
cpmmit  feveral  outrages;  but  they  were  fubdued 
with  great  (laughter. 

Pope  Hormifdas,  who  died  a.  d.  ^23,  whipped, 
and  banifhed,  the  Manicheans.  At  the  fame  time 
the  emperor  Jullin  ordered  that  they  Ihould  bs 
banifhed,  and  punifhed  with  death.  He  took 
from  the  pagans,  the  Jews,  and  all  heretics,  every 
public  employment,  excepting  only  the  Goths, 
^r  fear  of  offending  Theodoric.     At  the  fame  time 

F4  t% 


§8  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

they  met  with  much  worfe  treatment  from  Cavades 
king  of  Perfia.  JHe  firfl  made  them  believe  that 
he  would  encourage  their  do6lrine,  and  having  af- 
fembled  them,  and  their  bifhops,  he  ordered  them 
all  to  be  put  to  death. 


SECTION  VIII. 

OJ  the  Jlate  of  Su^perjlitiofi  in  this  Period, 


T 


HAT  fuperftition  fliould  be  founcj 
among  Chriftians,  efpccially  in  this  period,  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at,  when  we  confider  that  it  i» 
univerfally  the  oflPspring  of  ignorance ;  and  tho' 
the  light  of  revelation  tended  to  banifh  it  from 
both  Judaifm  and  Chriftianity,  its  principles  were 
not  always  fufficiently  attended  to.  Events  in 
which  men  are  much  interefted  they  will  always 
Idc  apt  to  afcribe  to  wrong  caufes,  and  it  is  in  this 
that  the  effeftce  of  fuperftition  confifls. 

From  habits  of  long  continuance,  a  prejudice 
even  for  heathen  cuftoms  remained  a  long  time 
among  Chriftians.  In  the  time  of  pope  Gelafms 
the  fenator  Andromachus,  and  others,  wanted  to 
reftore  the  Lupei-calia,  one  of  ths  mod  extrava- 
gant and  indecent  of  all  the  heathen  ceremonies  ; 
imagining  the  omifiion  of  thisfeflival  to  have  been 

the 


Sec.  VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  8§ 

the  caiife  of  a  public  malady  with  which  the  city 
of  Rome  had  been  afflided.  But  the  pope  ad- 
dreffed  a  letter  to  tliem  on  the  fubjeft,  and  fo  far 
was  he  from  being  of  the  fame  opinion  with  them, 
that,  with  equal  fuperftition,  he  afcribed  the  fall 
of  the  empire  to  the  Chriflian  emperors  not  having 
abolilhed  thofe  things  lefore. 

The  privileges  of  fanftuaries  were  introduced 
from  heathenifm  into  Chriftianit.y  ;  but  as  yet  thi$ 
abufe  was  very  moderate.  The  emperor  Leo  or- 
dered that  no  perfon  fhould  be  taken  from  a  church, 
or  have  any  claim  on  the  biftiop  or  the  clergy  for 
the  debts  of  perfons  who  took  refuge  in  them,  as 
had  been  ordered  by  Arcadius.  They  were 
anfwcrable,  however,  to  their  creditors,  and  effeds 
depofited  in  the  churches  were  to  be  given  up. 

Divination  by  lots  was  a  common  heathen 
praftice,  and  this  alfo  was  copied  by  Chriftians. 
And  with  them  the  favourite  mode  of  prying  into 
futurity  was  by  opening  a  Bible  at  random,  and 
i;eading  the  firfl  pafTage  that  prefented  itfelf,  as  ap- 
plicable to  the  circumftances  in  which  they  were. 
This  mode  of  fuperftition  was  forbidden  by  the 
council  of  Agde  in  a.  d.  506;  but  this  was  far 
from  putting  a  ftop  to  the  praftice.  When  the 
emperor  Heraclius  marched  againft  the  Perfians, 
in  A.  D.  622,  he  took  in  his  hand  an  image  of  fome 
fijint,    faid  not    to   have  been   made  by.  humaa 

Y  r  hands^ 


m  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV* 

hands,  and  (worn  to  his  troops  to  fight  even  to 
deaths  and  returning  from  his  viftory  he  caft  lots 
by  the  fcriptures  about  the  place  where  he  fhould 
pafs  the  winter. 

The  ordeal,  efpecially  that  by  fire,  was  fome- 
times  ufed  by  Chnftians.  At  the  council  of  Sara- 
goSa  in  Spain,  when  Arianifm  was  fuppreiTed  in 
that  coaatry,  it  was  ordered  that  the  relics  which 
had  b<^lGr^g2d  to  Arians  fhould  be  tried  by  fire, 
on  the  idea  that  true  relics  could  not  be  burned. 
What  was  the  iltue  of  this  trial  we  are  not  told, 
li  ihouid  have  been  ex*-ended  to  all  relics  alike. 

The  greatefl  and  befl  men  of  this  age  did  not 
efcape  the  fuperRitious  veneration  for  relics.  The 
emprefs  Conftantina,  having  written  to  pope  Gre- 
goiy  for  fome  part  of  the  body  of  St.  Paul,  in  order 
to  its  being  depoSted  in  a  church  ere6led  to  his 
honour,  the  pope  xvrote  in  anfwer,  that  the  bodies 
of  the  apoflies  were  fo  dreadful  for  their  miracles, 
that  no  perfon  durfl  approach  them,  that  feveral 
perfons  only  digging  near  them  had  been  terrified 
by  apparitions,  &c.  and  that  their  cuflom  was  to 
lay  pieces  of  linen  cloth  near  their  bodies,  and 
then  enfiirine  them,  and  that  thefe  had  the  fame 
virtue  with  the  bodies  of  the  faints  themfelves. 

S.  Eligius,  or  Eloi,  bifhop  of  Noyon  was 
famous  for  the  difcovery  of  the  bodies  of  faints. 
It  was  h«  who  found  thofe  ot  St.  Quintin,    St, 

Plato, 


Sec.  VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  91 

Plato,    St.  Crifpin,    St.  Crifpinian,    St.   Lucian, 
and  many  others.     MoJJieim,  Vol.  2.  p.  21. 

Havin<T  found  prejudices  in  favour  of  antienfc 
heathen  cuftoms  among  Chriftians,    we  fhall  lefs 
wonder  at  finding  fome  in  favour  of  Jewifh  ones, 
efpecially  in  transferring  the  fabbath    from  fatur- 
day  to  funday.      This  was  the  lefs  extraordinary^ 
as  both  thefe  days  having  been  ufed  tor  the  purpofe 
of  public  worfhip,     it  was  not  unnatural  to  give 
them  the  fame  ufes  in  all  refpe6ls.       Conftantine, 
however,  who  made  the  firft  ordinance  on  the  fub- 
je6l,  made  the   proper  diftin6tion  between  them, 
allowing  the  labours   of  hufbandry  on   lundays. 
But  thefe  were  forbidden  by  the  third  council  of 
Orleans  in  a.  d.  538.     Childebert  alfo  forbad  ail 
labour  on  that  day,    except  what  was  neceilary  to 
procure  fubfiftence.       At  the  council   of  Macon, 
in  A.  D.  585,  it  was  forbidden  to  fight  on  fundays^ 
this  beincr  claffed  among  works  of  labour.   It  would 
have  been  happy  for  the  Chriflian  v/orid,    if  this 
ordinance  had  been  obferved.      Some  perfons  ob- 
ferving  both  faturday  and  funday  as  days  of  reft, 
pope    Gregory  reproved  the  fuperftition  of  thofe 
who  obferved  the  former,  at  the  fame  time  that  he 
enjoined  reft  from  all  labour  on  the  latt-^r. 

Of  fuperftition  with  refpeft  to  baptifm  we  have 

feen  a  great  deal  in  former  periods  of  this  hiftory. 

^  A  curious  cafe  relating  to  it  occurs  in  this.   A  per- 


^a  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV- 

fon  having  made  profeflfion  of  the  Chriftian  faith, 
fo  as  to  be   prepared   for    baptifm,  having  been 
rendered  incapable  of  making  the  proper  refponfes 
at  the  time,  by  a  difeafe  of  which  he  died  prefently 
after,  and  another  perfon  making  the  refponfes  for 
him,  as  for  infants,    a  queflion  arofe  whether  his 
baptifm  would  avail  for  his  falvation.     Ferrand  of 
Carthage  thought  it  would  not,  fmce  he  had  adual  . 
fin,  tho'  it  would  fufhce  in  the  cafe  of  infants,  whq 
had  only  original  fin.     "  Befides,  is  it  not  an  in- 
"  jury,"  faid  he,  "  to   children    if  they  die    after 
»*  they  have  been  baptized,    but  before  they  hav» 
««  received  the  Lord's  fupper."     Fulgentius,  how- 
ever, maintained  that,  as  this  man  was  converted, 
having  really  changed   his  opinion  before  his  lU- 
nefs,  he  was  fafe,    and  that  they  who  are  baptized 
bec^in  in  reality  from  that  time  to  feed  on  the  body 
and  blood  of  Chrift,    even  without  receiving  the 
outward  elements ;    an  idea   which  gradually  led 
the   church    to  omit  the   communion  of  infants, 
efpecially  as  the  idea  of  the  fan6iity  of  the  elements 
was  advanced,    and  infants  were  liable  to  receive 
them  in  what  was  thought  to  be  an  irreverent  man- 
ner. 

That  bread  a6lual]y  confecrated  for  the  pur- 
pofe  of  communion  fhould  be  regarded  with  fu- 
perllitious  refpeQ  we  do  not  wonder  at.  But  that 
which  had  only  been  prerented  at  the  time,    tho* 

not 


$Ec.  VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  ©S 

not  confecrated,  was  confidered  as  fomething  fa- 
cred,  and  the  partaking  of  it  a  kind  of  communion. 
Thefe  loaves  were  called  eulogies.  King  Mero- 
vaeus  demanding  thofe  eulogies  was  for  fome  time 
refufed  by  Gregory  of  Tours,  till  he  remonftrated 
that  he  ought  not  to  be  fufpended  from  commu- 
nion, but  by  the  confent  of  the  other  bilhops. 

As  it  was  thought  to  be  wrong  to  wafh  imme«* 
diately  after  baptifm,  or  to  eat  before  communion^ 
it  was  alfo  thought  to  be  improper  to  bathe  pre- 
iently  after  communion.  Theodore  Siceota  re- 
proved thofe  who  did  it ;  faying  that  they  who 
were  perfumed  did  not  bathe,  left  they  fhould  lofe 
the  grateful  odour  of  the  perfumes. 

It  had  been  well  if  fuperftition  among  Chrifti- 
ans  had  ended  with  the  mere  folly  of  it ;  but  it 
has  generally  been  the  fubftitute  for  fubftantial 
virtue.  In  the  delineation  of  a  gOod  Chriftian  by 
Eligius,  or  Eloi,  above  mentioned,  nothing  is 
faid  of  the  love  of  God,  refignation  to  his  will, 
ol)edience  to  his  laws,  or  of  juftice,  benevolence, 
or  charity  towards  men  ;  but  the  whole  of  religion 
is  made  to  con  fill  in  going  often  to  the  church,, 
bringing  offerings  to  the  altar,  lighting  candles  in 
confecrated  places,  and  fuch  like  vain  fervices. 
Mojheim  Vol  2.  p.  22. 

Even  in  this  early  period  the  obligation  of  an 
oath  was  thought  capable  of  being  diflblved  by 

the 


Q^  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV; 

the  authority  of  a  Chriflian  prieft.  The  army  of 
the  emperor  Maurice  havmg  revolted,  atid  bound 
themfeives  by  an  oath  that  they  would  no  more 
obey  his  general  Philippicus,  Gregory,  bifhop  of 
Antioch,  who  had  perfuaded  them  to  return  to 
their  obedience,  told  them  that,  by  the  power 
which  he  had  from  Chrift,  to  bind  and  to  loofe,  he 
could  abfolve  them  from  their  oath,  and  this  fa- 
tisfied  them.  We  fhall  fee  more  inftances  of  thi3 
{la<7rant  violation  of  morality  hereaftef. 

The  progrefs  of  vice  generally  keeps  pace  with 
that  of  fuperftitiort  ;  knd  as  this  was  an  age  in  which 
the  barbarous  nations  made  the  greateft  irruptions^ 
into  the  Roman  empire,  we  cannot  wonder  at  the 
many  accounts  of  rapine  and  violence  that  we  meet 
with.  The  defolatiort  of  Italy  by  Chriftian  in- 
vaders in  the  time  of  pope  Gregory  was  dreadful. 
In  the  anarchy  of  ten  years,  which  took  p'ace  in 
Italy  after  the  death  of  the  Lombard  king  Glephis, 
the  churches  were  llripped,  the  bifhops  murdered, 
cities  ruined,  and  the  people  exterminated.  In 
the  hiftory  of  Gregory  of  Tours  there  are  many 
examples  of  bifhops  and  priefts  dragged  from  their 
churches,  loaded  with  chains,  beaten  and  mfulted 
various  ways.  In  the  civil  wars  in  France,  a.  d. 
573,  the  churches  fufFered  more  fays  Gregory  of 
Tours,  than  in  the  perfccution  of  Dioc'efian. 
Theodcbert  fon  of  Chilperic  laid  wafte  the  Limou- 


Sec.  VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  9S 

fin,  and  le  Querc6,  burning  churches,  feizing 
facred  veffels,  killing  the  clergy,  driving  away  the 
monks,  and  raviftiing  the  nuns. 

Another  confequcnce  of  the  diforders  of  thofe 
times  was  the  injury  that  was  done  to  ecclefiaftical 
difcipline.       Many  of  the  clergy  adopted   the  li- 
centious  manners   of  the   fecular  princes.      The 
bifhops  became  ^oo  much  addicted  to  the  pleafures 
of  the  world,    when  the  empire  became  Chriftian, 
and  for  the  purpofes  of  ambition  they  had  gone  to 
Conftantinople  more  than   the  duty  of  their  office 
admitted.     On  this  account  Juflinian  thought  it 
neceflary  to  forbid  their  going  thither  without  leave. 
By  another  ordinance  of  Juflinian,    in  a.  d.  54  r, 
the  clergy  were  forbidden  to  play  at  dice,  even  to 
look  on  while  others  played,  or  to  be  prefent  at  anjr 
public  fpedacle,  tinder  the  penalty  of  three  years 
fufpenfion.     At  the  council  of  Epaone,  in  a.  d. 
517,  the  clergy  were  forbidden  to  keep  hounds  or 
hawks.      At  the  council  of  Macon,  in  a.   d.  585, 
bifhops  were  alfo  forbidden  the  fame  things.     At 
a  council   of  Chalons  in  a,  d.   579,  two  bifhops, 
Salonicus   and  Sagittarius,  were  depofed,  and  a- 
mong  other  enormities  it  appeared  that  they  fought 
in  perfon,  and  killed  people  with  their  own  hands. 
At  a  council  of  Macon  in  a,  d.  583,  bifhops  were 
forbidden  to  bear  arms. 

With 


96  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XIVJ 

With  fo  many  incentives  to  ambition,  we  do 
not  wonder  at  the  fadious  difpofition  of  fo  many 
bifhops  of  this  period.  Egidius,  bilhop  ot  Rheims, 
at  the  council  of  Metz  in  a.  d.  590,  charged  with 
confpiring  againfl:  the  life  of  king  Childebert,  ait 
length  confeffed  that  he  had  always  afted  againfl;  the 
intereil  of  the  king  and  his  mother,  and  that  it  was 
*■  by  his  advice  that  the  wars  which  had  been  the 
caufe  of  the  ravages  in  Gaul  had  taken  place.  In 
confequence  of  this,  he  was  depofed,  and  banifhed 
to  Strafburgh.  So  general  was  the  fufpicion  of 
the  fuperior  clergy  living  diforderly  lives,  that  at  a 
council  held  a.  d.  ^^503,  on  occafion  of  the  pope 
Symmachus  being  charged  with  adultery,  or  fome 
other  heinous  crime,  it  was  ordered  that  all  bilhops; 
pnefl;s  and  deacons,  fhould  have  perfons  of  appro- 
ved virtue  to  live  with  them,  and  be  witnefles  of 
their  conduQ;.  Thefe  guardians  of  the  virtue  of  the 
clergy  were  called  Syncelli. 

Bifhoprics  being  of  fo  much  value  in  a  tempo- 
ral refpe6t,  and  giving  men  fo  much  power,  we  can- 
not wonder  at  improper  methods  being  ufed  to 
get  them.  It  is  obferved  by  Fleury,  under  the 
year  a.  d.  534,  that  in  France  a  cufl;om  was  intro- 
duced of  the  kings  felling  biflioprics.  At  the 
council  of  Clemont  in  a.  d.  /^35,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  put  a  Hop  to  this  abufe,  by  ordering  that 
51II  bifliops  {hould  be  chofen  by  the    clergy  and 

people  / 


Sec.  IX.   THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCKt.  ^fr 

people ;  and  that  if  any  peiTon  obtained  a  bene- 
fice hy  means  of  caballing  at  court,  he  fhould  be 
deprived  of  communion  with  that  church.  By  a 
latv  of  Juftinian  fimony  was  fo  ftriftly  forbidden 
and  guarded  againft,  that  Fleury  obferves  it  mufl 
have  been  very  common.  Vol.  7.  p.  338. 

,  The  intereft  which  the  founders  of  churches 
had  in  appointing  the  clergy  to  ofBciate  in  them 
was,  of  courfe,  very  great,  and  this  was  a 
motive  with  wealthy  perfons  to  build  and  endow 
churches.  But  in  a.  d.  538  the  emperor  Juftinian 
made  a  conftitution,  by  which  the  founders  of 
churches  were  prohibited  from  appointing  the  cler- 
gy to  ferve  them.  They  could^only  prefent  them 
to  the  biftiop  of  the  diocefe.  Here,  as  P'leury  ob- 
ferves, we  fee  the  origin  of  patronage.     Vol.  7^ 


:'-•-■'  j0%*V<«C^MbllM 


SECTION  IX, 

0/  the  Power  of  the  Popes  in  this  Period, 

V  V  E  have  feen  the  great  extenfion  of 
the  authority  of  the  fciQiops  of  Rome  in  confe- 
quence  of  the  \^w  of  Valentinian  Vol.  2.  p.  545. 
During  the  fubfequent  troubles  of  Italy,  in  which 
the  influence  of  the  popes  was  of  particular  con- 
Vol.  Ill,  G  fequenc^  j 


«8  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

fequence  to  the  emperors  refiding  in  the  Eaft, 
their  power  kept  gradually  extending  itfelf,  tho' 
in  this  period  it  was  far  Ihort  of  what  it  came  to  be 
afterwards.  What  is  moft  aftonifhing  to  a  perfon 
acquainted  with  the  preceding  hiftory,  is  the  im- 
pudence of  the  claims  of  the  popes  of  this  period. 
But  the  times  were  favourable  to  them,  and  not  to 
any  rigorous  inquiry  into  the  foundation  of  their 
pretenlions. 

Pope  Gelafius  afferted  the  authority  of  the 
^opes  to  receive  appeals  in^  all  cafes  of  herefy. 
"  The  canons/'  he  fays,  **  have  ordered  that  all 
*'  appeals  be  made  to  the  fee  of  Rome,  and  that 
"  there  be  no  appeal  from  it."  With  refpeifi:  to 
Eutychianifm,  about  which  he  was  writing,  he 
fays,  "  Timothy  of  Alexandria,  and  Peter  of  An- 
"  tioch,  were  depofed  by  the  fole  authority  of  the 
"  apoftolic  fee,  and  Acacius  himfelf  is  witnefs  of 
"  it,  feeing  he  was  the  executor  of  their  judgment  ; 
"  fo  that  he  himfelf  was  condemned  in  the  fame 
"  manner  when  he  joined  in  communion  with 
"  them."  Writing  to  the  bifhops  of  Dardania, 
A.  D.  495,  he  fays,  *'  It  belongs  to  the  apoftolic 
"  fee  to  confirm  the  a6ls  of  councils  by  their  au- 
"  thority.  All  acknowledge,"  he  fays,  "  now  that  the 
*'  fee  of  St.  Peter  has  a  right  to  ablolve  from  the  judg- 
"  mejit  of  all  the  bifhops,  and  to  judge  the  whole 
t'  church,    without  any  perfon  having  a  right  to 

^'  arraigri 


Sic.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  9d 

"  arraiijjn  their  decifion,  fince"  as  he  obferved  be- 
fore, "  the  canons  order  that  appeals  may  be  made 
"  to  that  fee  from  ail  the  world,  and  no  appeals 
*'  from  it."  Now  the  only  authority  for  this  was 
a  council  held  at  Rome  in  a.  d.  378,  confifling 
of  national  bifliops,  in  which  they  thank  the  em- 
perors Gratian,  and  Valentinian,  for  the  authori- 
ty they  had  given  to  the  fee  of  Rome.  But  this 
was  far  from  being  a  general  council,  admitting 
the  decrees  of  fuch  a  council  to  bind  the  wholq 
Chriilian  church. 

However,  in  a  fynod  held  at  Rome  in  a.  d, 
49 i,  confiding  of  fixty-fix  bifhops,  this  pope  de- 
clared that  the  church  of  Rome  is  to  be  preferred 
to  all  other  churches,  not  by  the  conllitution  of 
councils,  but  by  the  voice  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrilt 
himfeif,  when  he  faid  to  Peter  Upon  this  rock  will 
I  build  my  church,  which  places  the  authority  of 
the  popes  on  a  foundation  quite  diflFerent  from  that 
of  the  councils.     Sueur,  a.  d,  494. 

The  fame  pope,  writing  to  the  emperor  Ana- 
flafms,  fays,  '=  There  are  two  methods  by  which 
"  the  world  is  governed,  the  facred  authority  of 
"  the  bifliops,  and  the  royal  power.  The  office 
"  of  the  bilhops  is  the  greater,  becaufe  they  are 
*'  to  give  an  account  to  God,  even  of  kings.  For 
"  tho',"  he  adds,  "your  dignity  raifes  you  above 
*'  th'_*  refl  oi-    mankind,    you  bow  to  the  prelate.^, 

G  2  ''  you 


ioo  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XtV. 

*'  you  receive  the  facraments  at  their  hands,  and 
*'  follow  their  judgment  in  matters  of  religion. 
"  And  if  the  faithful  in  general  ought  to  be  fub- 
«'  je£l  to  the  bifhops,  how  much  more  ought  they 
"  to  be  fubjcct  to  the  bifhop  of  that  fee  which  God 
"  has  eilablifhed  above  all  the  bifliops,  and  which 
*'  has  always  been  acknowledged  as  fuch  by  the 
^'^  whole  church.'" 

The  government  of  the  church  having  by  this 
time  been  pretty  well  eflablifhed,  by  which  bifhops 
and  metropolitans  had   a  certain  jurifdiftion,    the 
popes  did  not  dire6lly   make   any  innovations  in 
that.     In  the  time  of  pope  Gitgory,   Fleury  fays^ 
the  pope  had  a  proper   jurifdiftion  over  the  fees 
that  were  termed  fuhurbican,  over  which  he  was 
the  regular  metropolitan,  that  is,  over  the  fouthern 
parts  of  Italy,    where  he  was  the  fole  archbifhop  i' 
alfo  over  Sicily  and  the  other  iHands,    tho'  they 
had  their  refpedive  metropolitans.       But  he  did 
not  exercife  the  fame  power  in  the  provinces  im- 
mediately dependant  on  the  fees   of  Milan,    and 
Aquileia,  or  in  Spain  and  Gaul,  tho'  he  had  his 
vicars  in  Gaul,  and  in  Illyricum.  *      He  alfo  ex- 
tended his  care  to  the  churches  in  Africa,  fo  far  as 

to 

*  Tlie  biQiops  of  Milan  were  never  ordained  by 
thofe  of  Rome,  but  by  the  bilhop  of  Aquileia.  Bing^^ 
ham  Vol.  1.  p.  347. 


Sec.  IX.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  iOi 

to  dire6t  councils  to  be  held,  and  fee  that  the 
canons  were  obferved.  He  had  no  junfdi6lion  at 
all  over  any  of  the  churches  in  the  Eaft,  and  took 
no  notice  of  their  conduft,  except  on  extraordinary 
occafions. 

Bat  tho'  the  authorify  of  the  popes  was  in  fom^ 
meafure  limited  in  thofe  provinces  in  which  the 
Chriftian  religion  had  been  long  enablifhed,  anc^ 
in  which  a  certain  diicipline  had  prevailed,  it  was 
unbounded  in  thofe  countries  in  which  it  was  then 
j5rft  received.  On  the  miflion  of  Auftin  to  Eng- 
land,  Gregory,  by  his  own  authority,  appointed 
what  bifhoprics  fhould  be  created  and  the  manner 
in  which  they  fhould  be  lubordinate  to  one  an- 
other. 

Of  the  abje6l  fubmiffion  to  the  pope^  by  thofe 
whofe  interefl  led  them  to  yield  it,  we  have  too  mgr- 
ny  inftances  in  this  period  of  our  hiflory.  The 
bifhops  of  Dardania,  writing  to  pops  Gelafiu5, 
call  him  ih^  father  ofjathers,  and  fay  that  they 
will  obey  his  orders  in  every  thing;  and  that  as 
foon  as  they  received  them,  they  renounced  the 
herefy  of  Eutyches,  of  Acacius,  and  his  followers. 
Ennodius  faid  of  pope  Symmachus,  that  he 
was  conftituted  judge  in  the  place  of  God,  which 
he  filled  as  vicegerent  of  the  moll  high.  MoJJieim^ 
Vol.  I.  p.  443.  In  one  of  his  works  he  even  main- 
tained that  all  who  were  raifed  to  the  dignity  of 

P   %  pope, 


i02  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

pope,  either  were  then  faints,  or  became  fo ;  that 
men  may  judge  other  men,  but  that  the  judgment 
of  the  pope  was  referved  for  God  only ;  iince  Je- 
fus  faid  to  Peter  onlv,   Thou  art  Peter. 

It  was  from  the  emperors  of  the  Eafl  that  tlic 
popes  borrowed  their  extravagantly  high  titles. 
Under  Theodolius  the  younger  it  became  cufloni- 
ary  to  afcribe  to  the  Chriflian  emperors  the  titlQS 
of  divinity.  This  emperor  and  Valentinian  gayie 
each  other  the  title  of  eternally  augvJL  Then  tlip 
biftiops,  and  among  the  refl  thofe  of  Rome,  atiH 
the  councils,  gave  them  thefe  titles.  They  often 
called  Marcian  mojl  divine  emperor,  moji'  diviJJx 
Augujhs,  and  eternally  Augujl.  Every  thing  that 
came  from  them  was  itimtdf acred,  celeftial  and 
divine.  Then  they  were  called  adorable,  and  for 
ever  adorable  ;  and  in  addreffing  them  they  faid 
that  they  laid  themfelves  at  their  feet,  and  when 
they  came  into  their  prefence  they  kiiftd  their  feet. 
When  the  emperors  were  driven  out  of  Rome,  and 
the  bifhops  became  mafters  of  it,  they  claimed  the 
fame  honours.     Siieur.  a.  d.  549.  550. 

Even  the  Arian  princes  found  it  their  intereft 
to  favour  and  extend  the  authority  of  the  popes,  Co 
much  did  they  fee  it  to  be  in  their  power,  by  means 
of  the  influence  they  had  with  other  bifliops,  ar-i 
the  people  at  large,  to  difturb  their  government. 
;in  A.  D.  528  Athalaric  king  of  the  Goths  in  Italy, 

ordered 


Sec.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  los 


?iJ^ 


ordered  that  no  a£lion  fhould  be  brought  againft 
any  of  the  clergy  of  Rome  before  the  caufe  ha^ 
been  carried  to  the  pope. 

The  churches  of  Africa  in  this  period  fhewed 
an  imphcit  deference  to  the  authority  of  that  of 
Rome.  It  was  confulted  with  refpedl  to  the  treat- 
ment of  thofe  who  yielded  to  perfecution  in  the 
time  of  the  Vandal  princes.  A  fynod  was  calied 
on  this  occafion  by  Felix  bifhop  of  Rome.  It 
confided  of  thirty-eight  bifhops,  when  various  de- 
crees  were  made  refpe6ling  the  different  cafes,  as 
of  clergy  and  laity,  &c.  and  in  this  decifion  the 
churches  of  Africa  acquiefced.    Sueur,   a.  d.  487. 

There  are  examples  even  in  Eaftern  churches 
of  extraordinary  power  being  allowed  to  the  bifhops 
of  Rome.  Pope  Gregory  abfolved  John  of  Chal- 
cedon  of  herefy,  tho'  condemned  by  the  judges 
appointed  by  the  patriarch  of  Conftantinople;  and 
the  patriarch  made  no  oppofition  to  it. 

When  other  bifhops,  however,  made  any  pre- 
tenfions  which  tended  to  exalt  them  over  their 
brethren,  none  were  fo  ready  to  reprefs  that  afpiring 
fpirit  as  the  popes.  This  was  remarkably  the  cafe 
with  Gregory  with  refpeft  to  the  title  of  cpcimenical, 
or  univerfal,  hijhop,  which  had  been  given  by  way 
of  compliment  to  feveral  patriarchs,  as  to  Diofco- 
rus  of  Alexandria,  [Sumr.  a.  d,  595.)  and  was 
firlt  alTumed  by  John  the  patriarch  of  Conftanti- 

G  4  nople^ 


fS  tHE  HISTORY  OF        Tkr.  XIV. 

hople.  On  this  occafion  Gregory  wrote  to  him  to 
1-eprove  him  for  it,  as  a  thing  that  "  fcandahzed  all 
"  his  brethren."  A  title,  he  fays,  "  full  of  extra- 
"  vagance  and  pride,  and  that  tho'  the  fame  title  had 
'**  been  offered  to  the  biihops  of  Rome  at  the  coan- 
'**  cil  of  Chalcedon,  it  was  rejected  by  them."  He 
alfo  wrote  to  the  emprefs,  and  to  the  patriarchs  of 
Antioch  and  Alexandria  on  the  fame  fubje6i.  All 
thefe  letters  are  dated  a.  d.  595.  Farther  to  re^ 
prove  the  arrogance  of  this  patriarch,  Gregory  af- 
fumed  the  title  offervusfervorum  Dei,  the  fervant 
of  the  fervants  of  God,  which  has  been  retained  by 
the  popes  to  this  day.     Giannone,  Vol.  1.  p.  225. 

This  John,  tho'  feemingly  fo  ambitious,  was 
fo  exemplary  for  his  mortifications  (which  was  the 
great  tell  of  virtue  in  this  age)  that  he  obtained  the 
furname  of  the  Fajler,  Notwithftanding  the  re- 
inonflrances  of  Gregory,  John  would  not  give  up 
his  tjtie,  nor  would  his  fucceffor  Cyriacus,  wjiich 
added  to  the  refentment  of  Gregory.  He  did  not, 
however,  break  communion  with  him  on  this  ac- 
count, but  he  exhorted  him  to  renounce  fo  profane 
a  title. 

Afterwards  he  feems  to  have  refented  it  ftill 
more.  For  when  he  fent  his  nuncio  to  Conflan- 
tinople,  he  ordered  him  not  to  communicate  with 
the  patriarch,  unlefs  he  would  renounce  that  title, 
Jind  he  gave  hi§  reafons  for  this  to  the  emperor    and 

to 


Sec.  IX.    THE   CHRISTIAN  CHURCfr  VoB 

to  the  bifhops  of  Alexandria  and  Antioch.  They 
advifed  him  not  to  caufe  a  fcandal  for  a  thing  of 
nothing;  but  the  pope  would  not  yield;  faying 
the  afifumption  of  this  title  by  the  patriarch  of  Con- 
ftantinople  would  tend  to  corrupt  the  faith  of  the 
whole  church  ;  fince  feveral  of  the  bifhops  of  Con- 
llantinople  had  been  heretics.  He  even  added 
that,  whoever  fhould  affume  that  title  of  univerfai 
bijhop,  was  the  forerunner  of  Antichriil,  by  placing 
himfcif  above  others.  In  order,  probably^  to 
deprefs  the  fee  of  Conftantinople,  he  maintained 
that  Peter,  the  prince  of  the  apoftles,  had  his 
church  in  three  places,  the  chief  at  Rome,  where 
he  died,  another  at  Alexandria,  whither  he  fent 
Mark  the  evangelift,  and  the  third  at  Antioch^ 
where  he  lived  feven  years. 

As  good  a  man  as  pope  Gregory  appears  to 
have  been,  thefe  pretenfions  of  thebifhop  of  Con- 
ftantinople, which  interfered  with  his  own  dignity, 
were  much  upon  his  mind,  and  he  omitted  no  op- 
portunity of  protefling  againfl  them.  A  council 
being  about  to  be  held  at  Conftantinople,  he  wrote 
to  the  Oriental  biOiops  to  warn  them  not  to  con- 
fent  to  the  title  of  univcrfal  biihop  being  given  to 
the  patriarch  of  Conftantinople,  on  that  occafion, 
and  in  general  to  guard  againfl  any  incroacKni^nt 
on  the  rights  ot  other  churches. 

G  c  Thisi 


loa  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XIV, 

This  pope  feems  not  a  little  inconfiftent  witlj 
liimfelf  when  he  thought  it  neceffary  to  express  his 
humility  as  a    Chriftian,  at  the  fame  time  that  he 
would  abate  nothing  of  his  prctenfions  as  bifhop  of 
the  Apoftolic  fee.       He  even  reproved  the  bifhop 
of  Alexandria  for  ufmg,  in  a  letter  to  him,  the  ex- 
prefTion  asyou  ordered  me ;  faying  that  he  was  *'  his 
^*  brother  by  his  rank,  and  his  father  by  his  virtue." 
'■'■  laQt  us,'"'  fuys  he,  "  forbear  expreflions  which  pufF 
'•'  vp  vanity,  and  hurt  charity.'       On  another  oc- 
cafion  he  fays,  *'  All  biihops  are  fubjeft  to  the  po- 
«'  pal  fee  when  they  commit  faults,     tho*   all    are 
«'  equal  according  to  the  law    of  humility.      No 
<'  one  doubts"  he  fays,   "but  that   the  church  of 
«'  Conftantinople  is  fubjeft  to  the  holy  fee,  as  the 
«'  emperor  and  the  bifhops  of  that  city  declare  coii- 
<*  tinually/' 

'  "^h'ls  very  fame  title,  however,  which  gave  fo 
much  offence  to  pope  Gregory,  when  affumedby 
the  bifhops  of  ConllantinOple,  was  fought  after, 
^nd  accepted,  by  pope  Boniface,  when  it  was  given 
llim  by  the  emperor  Phocas ;  who  being  an 
L^furper,  might  think  it  necelfiry  to  fecure  the  fa- 
vour of  the  pope,  He  alfo  wifhed  by  this  means 
to  mortify  Cyriacus  the  patriarch  of  Conftantinople, 
with  whom  he  was  at  variance.  Giannone,  Vol.  I. 
p.  §25,  The  Catholics  pretend  that  nothing  was 
thea  me^nt  by  this  title  befides  that  juft  fuperiori- 


Sec.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  lov 

ty  to  which  the  church  of  Rome  was  intitled  above 
that  of  Conftantinople.  But  why  then  did  Gre- 
gory rejedl  it ;  and  condemn  it  univerfally  ? 

The  bifhops  of  Conftantinople  difcovered  as 
much  ambition  as  thofe  of  Rome,  but  circumllances 
were  not  fo  favourable  to  them.  After  the  empe- 
rors became  Chriflian,  and  refided  in  that  city, 
the  bifhops  began  to  extend  their  authority  ;  firft 
emancipating  themfelves  from  the  jurifdidlion  of 
the  biftiops  of  Heraclea,  to  which  the  church  of 
Byzantium  was  originally  fubjeSl,  They  then  ex- 
tended their  authority  in  Alia,  Pontus,  and  Thrace, 
and  then  over  the  three  original  patriarchs  of  Jeru- 
lalem,  Antioch,  and  Alexandria.  Giannone  Vol.  I. 
p.  168.  In  thetimeof  Leo  Ifauricusthepaniarch 
of  Conftantinople  claimed  the  jurifdidion  of  Illy- 
ricum,  Epirus,  Achaia,  and  Macedonia,  and  alfo 
of  Sicily,  and  many  parts  of  Magna  Grascia.  lb, 
p.  171. 

Such  was  the  fituation  of  the  bifhops  of  Rome 
at  this  period,  that  much  bufinefs  of  a  civil  nature 
was  devolved  upon  them.  Gregory  complains  of 
this  in  a  feeling  manner.  Writing  to  a  friend  on 
his  eledion  he  fays,  "  There  is  {o  m.uch  of  tem- 
"  poral  bufinefs  in  this  dignity  that  I  find  myfelf 
*'  almoft  feparated  by  it  from  the  love  of  God.  I 
"  have  more  temporal  concerns  than  when  I  was 
*'  a  layman."     Writing  to  Leander  in  Spain,    he 

fays, 


|0§  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV, 

fays,  that  "^he  was  continually  plunged  in  low 
<'  thoughts,  fo  thafehe  could  hardly  have  a  moment 
«^  for  contemplation,  being  obliged  to  apply  to  ter- 
i^  reftrial  things." 

At  this  time  the  popjes  were  by  no  means  tem- 
poral princes,  yet  the  urgency  of  the  times  led 
$h?m  fomctimes  to  a6t  as  fuch.  Thus,  thro'  the 
4iegligence  of  the  Exarch,  pope  Gregory  appointed 
a  commander  to  a£l  againll  the  Lombards.  Ths 
great  wealth  of  the  bifhops  of  Rome  contributed 
much  to  their  power.  When  Trafimond  king  of 
ijie  Vandals  in  Africa  banifhed  two  hundred  and 
twenty  bilhops  pope  Symmachus  caufed  all  oi 
them  to  be  furnifhed  with  every  thing  necelTary  to 
their  fubfiftence.    GiannoneVol.  I.  p.  183. 

The  pov/er  of  the  popes  being  fo  rreat  in  this 
period,  we  cannot  wonder  at  the  eager  contefls 
there  fometimes  were  for  that  dignity.  In  the  fchifm 
JDetween  Symmachus  and  Laurentius,  a.  d.  501, 
there  was  much  violence,  and  many  murders  com- 
Hiittcd,  and  among  the  reft  feveral  priefts  loft  their 

Jives. 

The  popes,  like  other  biftiops,  were  originally 
^hofen  by  the  clergy  and  the  people  jointly ;  but 
the  votes  of  the  people  were  gradually  excluded, 
Itnd  at  length  thofe  of  the  ordinary  clergy.  In  a 
C:Quncil  held  by  pope  Symmachus,  a.  d.  499,  it 
was  Qj-dained  that  when  any  pope  died  before  any 

pro- 


Sec.x.  the  christian  church.     _  tm 

proviiion  could  be  made  for  a  fucceflor,  he  (l^ould 
be  appointed  who  had  the  majority  in  the  vote^ 
©f  the  clergy. 


SECTION  X. 


jSome  Particulars  relating  to  the  Clergy,  Church'^ 
es,  ^c.  in  this  Period,  and  other  Articles  oj  & 
mijcellaneous  Nature. 


T 


HE  ftate  of  the  clergy  in  this  period 
iv-as  not  materially  different  from  what  it  was  in  the 
former.  But  the  following  circumflances  ofamif=» 
cellaneous  nature  deferve  to  be  noticed. 

1.  There  was  no  place  of  clerical  education 
befides  the  churches  and  the  houfes  of  the  bilhopSj 
who  direfted  the  lludies  of  particular  perfons.  Thil 
was  the  more  eafy,  as  profane  fcience  was  not 
thought  neceffary  to  the  fun6iions  of  the  clergy» 
There  were,  however,  larger  fchools  for  catechu* 
mens  in  fome  places,  efpecially  that  at  Alexandria, 
where  Origen  had  taught ;  but  thefe  were  not  fo? 
the  ufe  of  the  clergy  as  fuch.  All  the  knowledge 
required  of  them  was  that  ot  the  fcriptures,  the 
writings  of  the  Fathers,  and  the  canons  of  the  churchy 
which  in  time  came  to  be  an  intricate  but  lucra^ 
tivc  fludy,    like  that  of  the  civil  law.     Pope  Gre*. 


410  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XIV. 

gory  forbad  even  the  teaching  of  Grammar,  be- 
caufe  in  the  Grammar  fchools  ufe  was  made  of 
profane  authors,  at  the  hazard  of  teaching  idol- 
atry. This  apprehenfion,  tho'  well  founded, 
is  thought  to  have  contributed  to  the  extinction  of 
liberal  knowledge  in  general  among  the  Romans. 

2.   Bilhops  were  always  chofen  from  the  infe- 
rior clergy  belonging  to  the  fee,  and  by  the  people; 
the    metropolitan    and    the   neighbouring  bifliops 
giving  their  approbation   by  ordaining   him.     It 
was  only  in  the  greater  fees,  after  the  emperors  be- 
came Chriflian,    that  they  interfered  in  the  choice 
of  bilhops,     The  priefls  always  performed  the  du- 
ty of  the  bifhop  in  his  abfenca  or  illnefs,    and  this 
feems  to  have  been   arranged   among  themfelves; 
But  pope  Gregory  appointed  that,     in  cafe  of  the 
ficknefs  or  incapacity  of  the  bilhop,    a  particular 
perfon  fhould  be  fixed  upon  to  do  his  duty,  with 
a  view  to  fucceed  him,    and  this  was  the  origm  of 
(Coadjutors  in  the  Catholic  church. 

3.  The  habit  of  the  clergy  began  to  be  dif- 
tinguiftied  from  that  ot  the  laity  at  the  time  of  the 
irruption  of  the  Barbarians  into  the  Roman  em- 
pire, the  clergy  keeping  to  the  Roman  drefs,  which 
confifled  of  a  large  flowing  garment,  very  different 
from  the  clofe  drefs  of  the  northern  nations. 


At 


Sec.  X.   THE  CHRISTIAN   CHURCH,  Hi 

At  the  council  of  Narbonne  in  a.  d.  589  thss 
ufe  of  the  furplice  was  enjoined,  but  only  during 
divine  fervice. 

4.  Cardinal  b'fhops,   pricfls,    and  deacons  ia 
the  time  of  pope  Gregory  were,  according  to  Fleu* 
ry,  thofe  who  were  attached  to  particular  churches, 
diflinguiftied  from  thofe  who  ferved  them  only  hy 
commiffion.  Vol.  8,  p.  36.      Giannone  fays  they 
were  ftrangers  in  the  churches  in  which  they  werg 
appointed  to  officiate,   faid  to  be  incardinaU  int9 
them,  or  depending  upon  them  as  the  door  uporl 
their  hinges,   whence  the   term.       They  had  notj. 
he  fays,  any  peculiar  dignity  or   fuperiority.  YoU 
I,  p.  2c^2.  But  Sueur  fays  the  term  cardinal  kcvnA 
to  have  been  ufcd  in  different   fenfes    by   anlieh£ 
writers,  many  of  them  for  the  principal,  agreeable 
to  the  ufe  of  the  word  on  other  occafions,  as  th^ 
cardinal  points  in  the  heavens,  the  cardinal  virtues^ 
&c.     Thus  the  church  in  which  baptifm  was  ad* 
miniftered  was    called  the   cardinal   or    princip?! 
church  ;    and  the  clergy  who  ofhciated  in  it  the 
cardinal  clergy.-  a.  d.  964. 

5.  It  appears  that  at  Alexandria  there  "wei'e  of 
the  clergy  who  were  both  married  and  artifans,  fof 
inention  is  made  of  one  who  maintained  himfel^ 
and  many  relations,  by  his  labour. 

Juflinian  was  the  firft  emperor  who  enlarged 
the  cognifance  of  the  bifhops  in  ecclefieftical  caui* 


in  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XIV. 

es,  and  granted  them  the  privilege  of  not  pleading 
before  lay  judges,  and  that  civil  a£l:ions  of  the  cler- 
gy and  monks  fhould  be  decided  by  the  bifbops. 
But  they  had  not  as  yet  any  prifons,  nor  could 
they  inflift  corporal  punilbment,  orimpofe  a  fine* 
Ciannonc,  Vol.  i.  p»  i8r. 

6.  Hy  an  ordinance  of  Juitinian  in  a.  d.  471, 
bifhops,  before  their  confecration,  were  to  recite 
their  formulary  for  communion,  for  baptifm,  and 
other  folemn  prayers ;  from  which  it  may  be 
inferred,  that  tho'  thofe  forms  might  be  precompo- 
fed,  they  made  no  ufe  of  books  for  that  purpofe,  but 
repeated  memoriter,  if  they  were  not  capable  of  of- 
ficiating ex-tempore. 

*f.  It  is  evident  from  the  New  Teflament  that 
in  the  primitive  times  there  was  no  precompofed 
form  for  public  worfliip  among  Chriftians,  tho' 
there  probably  was  among  the  Jews.  They  met  to 
read  the  fcriptures,  f:ng  pfalms,  adminifler  the 
Lord's  fupper,  and  exhort  the  people  as  there  was 
occalion.  As  our  Lord  gave  thanks  at  the  infti* 
tution  of  the  Eucharift,  this  was  gradually  extend- 
ed to  a  confiderable  length.  It  is  probable  there 
was  much  uniformity  in  the  fubjeft  of  it,  but  eve- 
ry bifhop  acquitted  himfelf  in  this  refpe6t  as  he 
was  able,  (CJS  z'bxfyoLTp)  as  Juflin  Martyr  fays. 
Some  perfons,  however,  being,  in  procefs  of  time, 
Jefb  qualified  to  do  this  to  the    fatisfadion  of  the 

jifTemblyy 


SeC.X.     the  christian  CI^URCH.  11^ 

aflembly,  forms  were  gradually  introduced;  but 
they  were  diflFerent  in  diflPerent  places.  Xn  this 
period  pope  Gelafius  compofed  one  for  the  ufe  of 
the  church  of  Rome ;  and  he  is  the  firfl  who  isfaid 
to  have  done  this. 

But  the  perfon  to  whom  the  church  of  Rome 
is  ftill  more  indebted  in  this  refpe6l  was  pope  Gre- 
gory. In  A.  D.  599  he  reformed  the  ofBces  of 
this  church,  adding  to  what  had  been  done  by 
Gelafius,  and  altering  many  things.  At  the  fame 
time  all  the  other  great  churches  had  their  own  of- 
fices, and  not  only  thofe  in  Greece,  and  the  Eaft, 
but  the  Latin  churches  in  Africa,  Spain,  Gaul  and 
Milan.  Gregory  alfo  regulated  the  finging,  and 
eftablifhed  afchool  for  teaching  it.  Aullin,  when 
he  went  to  Britain,  took  perfons  from  this  fchool, 
who  inftrufted  alfo  the  Gauls  in  pfalmody. 

8.  At  the  council  of  Braga  in  a.  d.  562, 
bifhops  were  forbidden  to  ufe  the  form  jffax  vobif- 
cum,  peace  he  with  you,  in  blefling  the  people,  but  to 
fay  nobifcum,  peace  be  with  us,  which  was  required  of 
priefls.  But  notwithftanding  this  the  di6lin6lion  pre- 
vailed, and  is  Hill  kept  up  in  the  church  of  England. 

9.  One  biftiop  having  been  originally  ad- 
pointed  for  one  city  or  diftrift,  when  there  was  on- 
ly one  congregation  of  Chriftians  in  it,  the  fame 
continued  to  be  the  cafe  after  they  became  nume- 
rous,   and  were  therefore  obliged  to  meet    in  fe- 

V01-,  III.  Ji  parat^i 


lU  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XIV. 

parate  places.  In  this  cafe  the  bifhop  preferved 
his  fuperiority  over  the  whole,  and  the  inferior 
clergy  officiated  in  the  fubordinate  ones.  This 
accounts  for  the  great  number  of  .priefts  and  dea- 
cons in  fuch  churches  as  thofe  of  Rome,  Con- 
flantinople,  and  Alexandria.  By  a  law  of  Juf- 
tinian  the  great  church  at  Conftantinople  was  to 
have  fixty  priefts,  one  hundred  deacons,  for- 
ty deacorieffes,  eighty  fubdeans,  and  twenty-five 
chanters  ;  fo  that  all  the  clergy  were  four  hundred 
and  twenty-five,  and  one  hundred  porters.  Thefe, 
however,  ferved  ten  other  churches  united  to  the 
cathedral. 

10.  At  the  council  of  Macon  in  a.  d.  585, 
iithes  were  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the  miniflers  of 
the  church,  under  pain  of  excommunication.  This, 
fays  Fleury,  is  the  fiift  mention  that  is  made  of 
tithes.   Vol.  7.  p.  526. 

11.  The  firfl  inflance  of  3.  general  confejfion, 
Fleury  fays,  was  made  in  this  period  by  St.  Eloi, 
who  confeffed  all  his  fins  from  his  youth  to  a  prieft, 
and  impofed  upon  himfelf  a  fevere  penance.  Vol. 
8.  p.  294. 

The  ignorant  clergy  of  this  period  received  very 
feafonable  affiftance  in  the  difcharge  of  their  duty 
hy  the  Penitential  of  Theodore,  who,  from  being 
a  Grecian  monk,  was  advanced  to  the  fee  of  Can- 
terbury,  It  contains  the  definition  of  all  fins,  aiid 

the 


,Sec.X.    the  christian  church.  11^ 

-the  proper  penances  to  be  appointed  for  them, 
with  the  forms  of  abfolution  and  exhortation.  This 
work  was  univerfally  received  in  all  the  Weftern 
churches  ;  but  in  the  eighth  century  this  difcipline, 
which  was  agreeable  to  the  antient  canons  of  the 
church,  grew  mto  difufe,  being  fupplanted  by  the 
new  canon  oi  indulgences.    MoJIieim  Vol.  2.  p.  25. 

In  A.  D.  509  at  Epone  in  France  a  council 
ordered  that  no  altars  flaould  be  confecrated  but 
fuch  as  were  made  of  (lone.  Before  this  they  were 
in  che  form  of  tables  ;  but  now  they  had  that  of 
an  altar,  fupported  either  on  one  foot,  or  a  pillar, 
or  ereCled  like  a  tomb.  Bingham  p.  302. 

In  the  council  of  Agde  in  a.  d.  506  is  the  firfl 
dlflinft  account  of  the  confecration  of  altars,  where 
the  ceremony  of  chrifm  was  added  to  that  of  facer- 
dotal  benedi6lion.     lb.  p.  328. 

12.  Mention  is  made  of  four  altars  in  the 
church  of  Saintes  in  this  period.  But  Fieury  fays 
we  are  not  to  conclude  that  they  were  all  ufed  at 
the  fame  time.  Vol,  8.  p.  103. 

It  was  firft  determined  in  the  council  of  Agde, 
in  A.  D.  566,  that  all  Chriflians  Ihould  communi- 
cate at  the  three  great  feftivals,  under  the  penalty 
of  not  being  confidered  as  Catholics.  At  the  coun- 
cil of  Lateran,  under  Innocent  III,  it  was  made 
.  necellary  only  at  Eafler.   Bingham  p.  829. 


$ify  THE  HISTORY  Of        Per.  XlV* 

In  the  time  of  pope  Gregory  there  were  no  pri- 
vate mafles,  or  mafles  without  communicantSj 
which  were  in  after  times  recited  for  particular  pur- 
pofes,  as  the  dehvery  of  perfons  from  purgatory* 
And  all  who  aflifted  at  the  fervice  partook  of  the 
Lord's  fupper.   Sueur  a.  b.  606. 

13.  At  the  council  ot  Braga  in  a.  d.  563,  iC 
was  forbidden  to  bury  the  dead  in  churches. 

14.  In  A.  D.  607  the  Pantheon  at  Rome  Was 
converted  nito  a  Chriftian  church,  dedicated  to 
the  virgin  Mary,  and  all  the  faints.  Then  alfo 
was  inftituted  the  feftival  ot  All  Saints, 

15.  In  this  period  we  find  the  firft  mention 
made  of  the  InterdiB,  which  in  later  periods  was 
a  thing  fo  much  dreaded  by  the  Chriftian  world ; 
and  it  is  amiifmg  to  obferve  from  what  caufes 
things  which  had  fo  great  an  influence  on  human 
affairs  arofe.  On  the  murder  of  f  raetextatus  biftiop 
of  Rouen  in  a.  d.  586,  the  church  was  ftiut  up, 
and  all  divine  fervice  omitted  till  the  murderer 
could  be  difcovered.  This  and  fome  other  in- 
stances of  interdidls  are  recorded  by  Gregory  of 
Tours. 

16.  Superftitiort  with  refpe6l  to  baptifm  could 
not  have  been  quite  fo  great  in  this  period  as  it 
came  to  be  afterwards.  For  it  was  celebrated  only 
two  days  in  the  year,  tho'  there  was  much  prepa- 
ration for  it.     But  when  children  were  in  dangef 

of 


§«6,X.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  iif 

of  dying  this  ordinance  was  adminiftered  out  of 
the  ufual  courfe.  It  appears  from  the  lituri^y  of 
pvpe  Gelafius,  that  the  majority  of  baptized  in- 
fants  were  the  children  of  Chriftians. 

17.  Advent  was  a  fellival  which  began  to  be 
obferved  in  thii  period. 

In  the  fi'"teenth  year  of  Jufinian  the  Latins  be- 
gan to  celebr^re  he  U  flival  of  the  purijication  ofths 
•pirpn  on  the  2d  of  February.  Before  this  time, 
the  Greeks  had  celebrated  a  fcllival  called  the  meeU 
iag,  viz,  that  cf  Simeon  with  Mary,  when  he  took 
the  child  Jefus  in  his  arms  and  bleiled  him.  But 
they  did  not  then  invoke  the  virgin,  nor  light  up 
candies  in  honour  of  her,  from  which  this  feftiyal 
obtained  the  appellation  of  Candlemas.  Sueur  a. 
p.  442. 

18.  The  firfl  council  of  Orleans  in  a.  d.  511 
ordered  three  days  before  the  afcenfion  to  be  kept 
as  a  fall,  after  the  manner  of  lent,  with  rogations 
and  litanies;  and  that  on  thofe  days  fervants  fhould 
jrefl  from  their  labours,  keeping  to  the  old  rule  of 
the  church,  not  to  faft  in  the  fifty  days  between 
Eafter  and  Whitfuntide.  By  an  order  of  the  coun- 
cil of  Girone  thofe  litanies,  and  this  faft,  were  put 
off  till  the  w^ek  after  Whitfuntide.  Bingham^ 
p.  560. 


lis  ..   ^    THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XIV, 

19.  It  is  ftill  a  doubt  with  many  perfons, 
whether  the  obligation  to  refrain  from  eating  blood, 
and  animals  that  have  been  ftrangled,  does  not 
continue  on  the  authority  of  the  apoltles.  It  is 
ftridly  obferved  in  the  Eaft  to  this  day.  In  the 
lecond  council  of  Orleans  in  a.  d.  525  they  were 
excommunicated  who  ate  of  animals  killed  by  beafts, 
thofe  that  were  flrangled,  or  that  died  of  any  dif- 
eafe. 

20-  Among  the  other  mifcellaneous  articles  in 
this  period,  it  is  worth  noticing  that  in  a.  d.  591, 
a  perfon  pretended  to  be  Jefus  Chrift,  and  was  ac- 
companied by  a  woman  who  was  called  Mary: 
He  had  more  than  three  hundred  followers,  who 
were  guilty  of  great  outrages.  As  he  was  going 
to  attack  Aurelius  a  bifhop  in  France,  fome  of  the 
bifhop's  friends  met  him,  and  pretending  to  do 
him  reverence,  flabbed  him,  on  which  his  follow- 
<;rs  were  difperfed. 

21.  As  Chriftians  will  feel  theriifclves  interefled 
in  every  thing  relating  to  Judaifm,  I  vv^ould  ob- 
fcrve  that  when  Belifarius  conquered  Carthage  in 
A.  D.  534,  he  brought  away  thefacred  veffels  which 
had  been  in  the  temple  at  Jerufaiem.  They  had 
been  carried  to  Rome  by  Tjtus,  and  thence  to 
Carthage  by  Genferic.  Juflinian  fent  them  to  the 
church  at  Jerufaiem, 

PERIOD 


Sec.  I.       THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  119 

*   ■ 

PERIOD     XV. 

From  the  rise  or  M4H;Ometanism  .iij,y 
A.  D.  608  TO  THE  Establishment  ofr 
THE   Western   empire    ujj^d.ea   QuAKi^s^ 

MAGNE     IN     A.     D.    800.  '      ■  "  V 


SECTION    I. 

Of  the  controverfy  occafioned    by  the  Monothelites, 

X  HERE  is  not,  perhaps,  in  the  whole 
eompafs  of  ecclefiaftical    hiftory,    a  more  melan- 
choly example  of  the  mifchief  that  may  arife  frorri 
metaphyfical  fubtletics,  and  at  the  fame  time  from 
the  improper  interference  of  the  civil  magiftrate  to 
dired  the  faith  of  mankind,    than  in  what  relates 
to  the  Monothelites.      And  this  controverfy,    like 
all  the  preceding  ones  of  any  note,     related  to  the 
ideas    which  Chriftians  entertained  concerning  the 
perfonofChriJi,  a  fubjeft  which  has  been  the  prin- 
cipal caufe  of  divifion  among  Chriflians   from  the 
firft  propagation  of  Chriftianity  to  the  prefent  time. 
Tho'  the  dodririe  of  the  diftindion  of  the  two 
natures  in  Chriil  was  eftabhfhed  at  the  council  of 
Chalcedon,     many  of  the  bifliops  who  received  it 

H  4  ftiU 


120  ¥6%  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

flill  maintained  that,  in  confequence  of  the  unity 
of  the  perfon,  there,  ought  not  to  be  afcribed  to 
him  more  than  one  will,  and  one  operation  ;  and 
hy  moderate  men  it  was  hoped  that  the  acknow- 
ledgment of  this' tvoiild  unite  the  two  parlies  into 
which  the  Chriftian  world  had  long  been  dividi;d. 
Theodore  biftiop  of  Pharan  in  Arabia  is  faid'to 
have  been  the  firlt.  who  advanced  this  opinion ; 
but  it  was  received  by  Sergius  patriarch  of  Con- 
flantinople,  who,  it  is  obferved,  was  born  ot  Eu- 
tychian  parents,  and  therefore  might  be  fuppofed 
to  hive  a  leaning  to  an  opinion  which  favoured  of 
that  herefy,  which  this  doftrine  of  monothelitifm 

did. 

feergms  pretended  that  this  doftrine  had  been 

maintained  by  Mennas,  a  former  patriarch  of  Con- 
ftantinople,  and,  hoping  to  heal  the  divifions  in 
the  Chriftian  church,  he  wrote  to  feveral  pcrfons 
of  eminence  on  the  fubjeft,  and  among  others  to 
George  furnamed  Arfan,  a  Paulianift,  or  Uni- 
ferian,  to  whom  he  expreffed  his  hope  of  a  good 
efFefi:  from  it.  Indeed  with  the  Paulianifts,  who 
were  probably  pretty  numerous  at  this  time,  Fieu- 
ry  obferves  he  could  not  but  find  atiprovers.  For, 
Mieving  Chrifl  to  be  a  mere  man,  they  could  not 
attribute  to  him  more  than  one  will  and  one  opera- 
tion. The  patiiarchs  of  Alexandria  being  gene- 
rally oppofed  to  thofe  of  Conflantinople,    John, 

who 


Sec. I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  I2t 

who  then  occupied  the  former  of  thefe  fees,  was  fo 
far  from  concurring  with  Sergius  in  this  mcafure, 
that  he  would  have  propofed  the  depofition  of  him 
on  account  of  this  letter  of  his  to  George^  but 
that  an  incurfion  which  the  Perfians  then  made 
into  Egypt  prevented  it. 

The  emperor  Heraclius,  feeing  his  dominions 
ftifFer  fo  much  by  divifions  among  Chuftians,    ea- 
gerly joined  with  Sergius  in  this  fcheme  of  uniting 
them;    and  with  this  view  held  a  conference  with 
the  chief  of  the  Severian  Eutychians  in    Armenia, 
and  with  the  concurrence   of  Sergius  he  wrote  to 
Arcadius   archbifhop   of  Cyprus  on  the  fubjeft. 
This  letter  he  read  to  Cyrus  bifhop  of  Phafis,  and 
metropolitan  of  that  country.       But  Cyrus,   not 
entering  at  that  time   into    the    emperor's  views, 
anfwered  him  by  appealing  to  the  celebrated  letter 
of  pope  Leo  at  the  time  of  the  council  of  Chalce- 
don,  which  he  faid  evidently  indicated  two  opera- 
tions in  Chrift.  Butnotchuling  to  fay  any  thing  more 
in  oppofition  to  the  emperor,  he  wrote  to  Sergius 
On  the  fubje61:,    and  his  letter  is  dated  a.  d.  626. 
Sergius  replied  that  the  council  had  not  determined 
any  thing  definitively  on  the  fubje6l,    which  was 
not  then  agitated,  but  that  Cyril  had  advanced  that 
there  was  only  one  vivifying  operation  in  Chrift, 
and  he  denied  thaC  the  letter  of  Leo   favoured  the 
contrary  opinion.   lie  alfo  faid  that  he  didnot  know 

H  5  that 


in  THE  HISTORY  QF  Per.  XV, 

|;hat  any  ot  the  Fathers  had  maintained  the  doc- 
trine of  two  operations,  and  that  we  ought  to  con.- 
forn^  to  their  doclnne,  without  making  any  inno? 
Rations, 

The  Eutychians  were  as  much  inclined  to  mo- 
nothelitifm  as  the  Unitarians.  Fur  to  acknowledge 
but  one  wi.i  in  Ghrift  was  to  acknowledge,  as  they 
|hought,  but  one  nature.  On  this  principle,  Atha-r 
jiafius  patriarch  of  the  Jacobites,  being  promifec^ 
]3y  the  emperor  to  be  made  bifhop  of  Antioch  if  he 
^vfou'd  acknowledge  the  council  of  Chilcedon,  con- 
fen  ei,  and  in  this  C  ais  t'ljii  cuacarred;  and 
Geor^-,e  j.dtnavch  ol  A-u.-^dndria  dying  at  that  time, 
Cyrus  lucctedediiim,  and  joined  Thcodurt  bilhop 
pf  Pharan  in  the  profcflion  of  the  fame  fentiments.  . 

By  means  of  this  new  doSlrine  Cyrus  fucceedecj 
in  reconciling  the  Theodofian  feet  of  the  Euty- 
phians,  which  was  very  numerous.  This  union 
^ook  place  at  Antioch  a.  p.  633,  all  thefe  fedaries 
Entering  the  great  church  of  that  city,  and  receiving 
fhe  Gommunion  in  it.  Bat  they  boafted  that  it  was 
pot  they  who  had  received  the  council  of  Chalce- 
^on,  but  that  the  council  had  come  over  to  them; 
for  that  by  acknowledging  but  one  operation  in 
Chrifl:,  it  was  acknowledged  that  he  had  only  one 
lis^ture,  -Sophronius,  a  monk  of  great  celebrity  in 
ihofe  part?,  and  afterwards  patriarch  of  Jerufalem, 
jemontirs-eu  fupi^^^y  Pgainft   the  articles  of  thi.^ 

union  J 


Sfcc.I.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  l^d 

tinion,  both  with  Cyrus  and  Sergius,  but  without 
efFeft.  He  will  appear  to  have  been  the  principal 
promoter  of  the  oppofition  thai  was  made  to  the 
new  meafures. 

In  order  to  gain  pope  Honorius,  Sergius  wrote" 
to  him  on  the  occafion,  giving  him  a  hiflory  of 
what  had  pafTed  in  the  Eaft  with  refped  to  it, 
Mentioning  the  letter  of  Mennas  to  pope  Vigilius, 
and  profefling  to  have  no  opinion  of  his  own  on 
the  fubjeft.  He  mentioned  with  regret  the  oppo- 
fition of  Sophronius  to  the  union  that  h?.d  taken 
place  with  the  Eutychians,  which  he  thoug;  r  a 
happy  event,  ard  Itated  the  metaphyficai  difficul- 
ties which  occurred  on  the  queftion,  and  which 
lie  thought  it  beil  to  avoid  by  general  expreffions. 

The  pope  in  his  anfwer  expreffed  himfelf 
pleafed  with  the  letter  of  Sergius,  commefided  him 
for  his  endeavours  to  prevent  difputes  about  novel 
expreffions,  which  he  faid  might  fcandalize  the 
fimpie,  and  that  he  acknowledged  but  one  will  in 
Chria,  becaufe  the  divinity  had  taken  not  our 
fin,  but  our  nature  only,  as  it  was  created  before 
the  fall,  and  which  could,  therefore,  (we  may  fup- 
pofe  he  would  have  faid,)  have  no  will  different 
from  that  of  the  divinity.  He  farther  faid  that  he 
did  not  fee  that  either  the  councils,  or  the  fcript- 
ures,  authorized  us  to  fay  that  there  v.-as  either 
one  or  two  operations,  and  concii-ded  v/ith  dating 

■  the 


12-4  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV, 

the  diffictiUy  of  infiflingon  either  of  thefe  expref- 
lions,  left  the  one  fhould  be  conftrued  into  Nefba-? 
fianiim,  and  the  other  into  Eutychianifm. 

Sophronius,  on  being  made  b'fhop  of  Jerufa- 
lem,  in  the  confeffion  of  his  fai:h  which  it  was  then 
mfual  to  make  on  thofe  cccafi  >ns,  faid  that  therp 
was  in  Cliiift  a th^^andrique  operation,  or  fomething 
of  a  middle  nature  between  the  divine  and  the  ha^* 
snan.  On  this  Honorms  wrote  to  him,  afid  alio  to 
Cyrus,  expreffing  his  difapprobation  of  the  new 
terms,  of  otie  operation  or  two,  as  novelties  which 
niight  obfcure  tLe  doftrineof  the  ehurch.  Suphro.-. 
eius,  in  his  anfwer,  complied  fo  far  as  to  promile 
ihat  he  would  not  fpeak  of  two  operations,  pro- 
vided that  Cyrus  would  ceafe  to  fpeak  of  one.  At 
Jeaft  his  deputies  promifed  this  for  him.  This, 
however,  had  no  effed.  On  the  contrary,  Sophro- 
isius  continued  to  oppofe  the  Monothelites,  and 
Colle6led  in  two  volumes  fix  hundred  palfages  from 
the  Fathers  tQ  confute  them,  But  this  only  irri- 
tated them  the  more.  Perceiving  that  he  gained 
fiQthipg  by  this  means,  he  fent  Stephen  bi(hop  of 
l^gra  to  Rome,  in  order  to  procure  a  formal  con- 
demnation of  this  new  doarine ;  and  notwithftand^ 
ing  the  attempts  of  the  Monothelites  to  prevent 
hitn,  the  bifhop  arrived  at  Rome,  but  probably 
not  till  after  the  death  of  Honorius.  However, 
^ophvgmaj  InwMi  died  m  ^  ^ost  time  after  the 
*  taking 


Seg.  I,     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCII.  ItS 

taking   of  Jerufalem  by   the   Saracens   in    a.   b^ 

636. 

The  emperot  Heradius,  willing  to  prevent  the 
rifing  ftorm,  publifhed  what  was  termed  an  eBhe-^ 
Jis,  or  expofition  of  the  Chrillian  do6lrine  on  this 
fubjeft,  compofed  by  Sergius,  in  v/hich  he  dif- 
claimed  the  terms  one  operation  or  two,  but  main- 
tained that  in  Chrift  there  was  only  one  will,  faying 
that,  if  even  Neftorius,  who  admitted  two  natures^ 
yet  acknowledged  only  one  will,  much  more  ought 
the  Catholics;  and  that  the  fltfii  of  Chrift  animated 
by  a  rational  foul  had  never  any  natural  motion 
feparate  from,  or  contrary  to,  that  of  the  logos 
which  was  united  to  it.  This  edhefls  ivas  adopted 
by  a  council  held  at  Conftantinople,  and  was  re- 
ceived by  all  the  bifhops  of  the  Eaft,  It  did  not^ 
however,  give  the  fame  fatisfa^ion  at  Rome,  wherg* 
a  council  was  held  under  John  IV,  which  coii* 
demned  it.  And  then  the  emperor,  perceiving 
the  offence  it  had  given,  difclaimed  being  the  au* 
thor  of  it,  and  afcribed  it  wholly  to  Sergius. 

Since,  however,  his  predecelfor  Honorius  had 
appeared  to  favour  the  Monothelites,  pope  John 
thought  it  neceffary  to  write  to  the  emperor  in  his 
vindication ;  faying  that,  tho'  he  denied  two  con-^ 
Irary  wills  in  man,  or  the  human  nature  of  Chrifl:, 
which  other  men  derive  from  Adam,  he  m:iin- 
tained  only  one  v/ill  of  the  humanity,    and  one  of 

th^ 


iat>  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

the  divinity.  "  If/'  fays  he,  on  this  occafion,  "  we 
•'  maintain  that  Chrift  had  only  one  will,  we  muft 
*-  deny  either  his  divinity,  or  his  humanity  ;  and 
'*  if  the  two  natures  have  but  one  will,  we  not  only 
"  confound  the  wills,  but  the  natures  too." 

From  this  time  the  popes  were  uniformly 
zealous  againfl  the  Monothelites,  and  pope  Theo- 
dore wrote  to  Paul  the  patriarch  of  Conftantinople, 
who  had  fucceeded  Sergius,  requefting  him  to  hold 
a  council  for  the  purpofe  of  condemning  the  efthe- 
fis  ot  Heraclius ;  but  little  attention  was  given  to 
this  demand.  However,  Sergius  the  metropolitarr 
of  Cyprus,  wrote  to  the  pope  to  exprefs  on  this 
occafion  his  fubmilTion  to  the  holy  fee,  as  founded 
on  the  power  given  to  Peter.  Stephen  biftiop  of 
Dora  alfo  wrote  to  complain  to  the  pope  of  the  con- 
du6l  of  Paul,  in  confequence  of  v/hich  the  pope 
made  him  his  vicar  in  Paleftine,  with  power  to  re- 
gulate all  ecclefiaflical  matters,  and  efpecially  to 
depofe  the  bilhops  whom  Sergius  had  irregularly 
ordained.  Accordingly  Stephen  acknowledged 
none  to  be  lawful  birtiops  but  thofe  who  renounced 
the  edhefis  of  Heraclius.  But  many  churches  ap- 
pointed no  other  bifhops  in  the  place  of  thoie 
whom  he  depofed.  The  bifliops  of  Africa  alfo 
wrote  to  the  pope,  declaring  againfl  the  Monothe- 
litesr. 


Sec.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCrf.  i0 

In  this  controverfy,  as  v/ell  :.s  that  which  fof^ 
lowed  on  the  fubjeft  of  image  worfhip,  the  monks 
took  a  part  oppofite  to  that  of  the  court  of  Coil- 
ftantinople,  and  the  fame 'with  that  of  the  popej 
and  the  perfon  who  diftinguifhed  himfelf  the  mofl 
in  this  bufinefs  was  Maximus,  fome  of  whofe 
writings  are  come  down  to  us.  Being  in  Africa 
at  the  fame  time  with  Pyrrhus,  who  had  re  ired 
from  the  fee  of  Cotiftantinop^e,  they  had  a  con- 
ference on  this  fubjeft,  in  which  Pyrrhus  maitii 
tained  the  do6lrine  of  the  Monothelites,  and  M'a- 
ifeimus  the  contrary.  On  this  occafion  Pyrrhus 
acknowledged  a  compound  will  in  Chrift.  Bu^ 
this  would  not  fatisfy  Maximus,  who  maintained 
that,  tho'  Chrifl;  had  the  affections  of  hun'^e^  and 
thirfl,  &c.  it  was  not  neceifarily,  bdt  voluntarllyi 
The  effential  properties  of  humanity,  he  fiicJ, 
prove  his  human  nature,  but  the  manner  of  his 
holding  them  proves  the  niyflery  of  the  union.  O'ri 
this  Pyrrhus  advifed  to  drop  thefe  fubtletics,  which 
he  faid  the  common  people  would  not  underflandj 
and  content  themfelves  v/ith  faying  that  Chrift  is 
perfe£l  God  and  perfe61;  rhan,  without  troubling 
themfelves  any  futher  and  alfo  with  the  decrees 
of  former  councils,  which  faid  nothing  about  orie 
tvill  or  two.  But  this  would  not  fatisfy  Maximus^ 
t^ho  fiid  that,  as  a  proof  that  there  may  be  twlif 
dillinft  operations    in  the   fam.e   fubftance,    a  hat 

knife 


128  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV. 

laiife  both  cuts  and  burns  at  the  fame  time.  In 
the  ifTue  Pyrrhus  yielded,  or  feemed  to  yield,  to 
the  reafons  of  Maximus,  and  afterwards  went  to 
Rome  to  make  his  retra6lation  before  the  pope, 
and  on  this  the  pope  acknowledged  him  for  the 
Irxwful  patriarch  of  Conftantinople. 

This  retraftation  of  Pyrrhus  was  the  occafion 
of  feveral  councils  being  held  in  Africa,  the  decrees 
of  which  were  all  againft  the  Monolhelites,  and 
were  calculated  to  induce  Paul,  who  held  the  fee 
of  Conftantinople,  to  conform  to  what  they  called 
the  doftrine  of  the  church.  Fortunius,  however, 
the  bifhop  of  Carthage  was  a  Monothelite,  and 
joined  Paul  at  Conftantinople, 

Paul,  preffed  by  thefe  remonftrances,  and  efpe- 
cially  in  his  controverfy  with  the  pope's  legates, 
wrote  to  die  pope  an  explanation  of  his  opinions, 
alleging  that  the  reafon  why  he  allowed  only  one 
will  to  Chrift  was  not  to  afcribe  to  him  any  con- 
trariety or  difference  of  will,  and  thus  introduce 
two  perfons.  But  his  letter  gave  no  fatisfa6lion  at 
Rome,  or  to  the  bifliops  of  Afiica,  and  thofe  of 
the  Weft  in  general,  who  held  with  the  pope. 

It  appearing  neceffary,  however,  to  do  fome- 
thing  to  content  the  Africans,  then  invaded  by  the 
Saracens,  the  emperor  Conftans,  who  had  fucceed- 
ed  Heraclius,  thought  proper  to  recall  the  edhefis 
of  his  predeceffor,  and  by  a  new  edi6l  to  order  that 

there 


ata.  I.     -THE  CHKlgtlAN  CJIlURCH,  m 

th^rt  honU  fee  no  rnbre  di^ptitiTi^-bS  t!ve  YiiBj^af; 
*bwe'th!i-t  all  ^bi-fons'fliouM  abide  by  the  ^decifibtf^ 
of  "'tile  five  general  councils,  and' th*e  lan^^uake  df 
the'  FatHers,  without  particular  explanations.  This 
edict  was  called  the  Type',  or  Jormulary. 
'••i  '-I*ope  Theodore,  feeing  that  neither  his  letter^ 
Ror  his  legates  had  any  fuccefs  to  bring  back  Paul  of 
Conflantinople  to  the  Catholic  faith,  pronounced 
againft  him  the  fenterice  of  depofition.  This  wai 
probably  in  a  council  convened  for  the  purpofe, 
alid  in  the  fame  he  condemned  Pyrrhtis ;  who  hav^ 
ing  gone  h'om  Rome  to  Ravenna  there  renewed 
His  profeflion  of  Monothelitifm,  having  been  pro- 
bably gained  by  th^  exarch  with  thfe  hope  of  hia 
fucceeding  to  the  fee  of  Conflantliibjile.  Paul/ 
hearing  of  his  depohtion  overturned  the  altar  whidi 
the  pope  had'  at  Conftantinople  in  the  oratory  of 
the  palace,  forbade  his  legates  to  celebrate  trtaft 
there,  and  even  petfeiruted  them,  and  other  Ca- 
tholic biiliops,  fome  with  imprifonment,  forhe 
with  banifhmeiit,  and  others  with  corporalpunifli* 
ment.  ^-'^ 

Martin,  who  fa Cceeded  Theodore  in  A.  o.  649, 
immediately  on  his  accefhon  called  i  CoiiUcil, 
which  confifted  of  one  htmdred  and  five  Italian 
blfhops,  and  after  five  folemn  feffions,  in  which  he 
had  inveighed'  bitterly  againft  the  MonotheliteS,  ^ 
as  Acephali,  and   Apollinariatis,    and  againfl  the 

Vol.  Ill,  I  ^Q^^ 


130  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XVC' 

conduft  of  Paul  and  Pyrrhus,  fentence  of  con^ 
demnation  was  pafled  on  all  thofe  who  held  that 
in  Chriil  there  was  only  one  will  and  one  opera- 
tion. They  included  in  their  anathemas  Paul^ 
Pyrrhus,  and  in  general  all  thofe  who  received  ei- 
ther the  efthefis  of  Heraclius,  or  the  impious  type- 
of  ConftanS'. 

As  the  writings  of  the  Catholic  Fathers  were  ad- 
mitted as  authorities  in  the  proceedmgs  of  this* 
council,  and  the  fpurious  ones  of  DionyCus  th& 
Areopagite  weie  not  then  queftioned,  the  pope, 
was  at  much  pains  to  explain  the  phrafe  theandri-^ 
^iie  operation,  which  occurs  in  it,  as  fignifying  in- 
reality  not  one,  but  two  operations,  viz.  of  the- 
God,  and  of  fjje  man.  All  the  difcourfes  delivered^ 
at  this  council,  Fieury  obferves,  were  probably 
precompofed,  few  perfons  being  at  that  time  qua- 
lified to  fpeak  extempore,  as  in  the  former  coun* 
cils ;  and  the  Latin  tongue  being  much  corrupteti,. 
they  were  aQiamed  to  write  as  they  fpake.  Vol.  8i 
p.  417.  It  mufl  be  added  that  Paul  biiliop  of  Thef- 
falonica,  appearing  to  favour  the  principles  of  the 
Monothelites  in  his  fynodical  letter,  was  excom- 
municated by  the  pope. 

Tho'  the  pope  carried  every  thing  thus  tri- 
umph;intly  in  the  Weft,  what  he  did  there  had  no 
efFea  in  the  Eaft.  On  the  contrary,  the  emperor 
was  fu  provoked  at  his  condud;  that  he  fent  orders 

ta^ 


Sec.  L      the  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  isi 

to  the  exarch  Olympius  to  oblige  all  the  bifhop^ 
and  landholders  in  his  jurifdiftion  to  fubfcribe  his 
type-,  and  if  he  was  fure  of  the  army,  to  feize  the 
pope  himfelf.  This  order  was  given  before  the  em- 
peror had  heard  of  the  preceding  council.  Olym- 
pius, finding  the  council  affembled,  and  perceiving 
that  he  could  not  depend  upon  the  army,  formed 
a  defign  to  afTaffinate  the  pope ;  but  this  fchemc 
failing  he  went  to  Sicily  to  oppofe  the  Saracens, 
and  being  defeated  he  there  died. 

His  fucceffor  Theodore  had  the  fame  orders  to 
feize  the  pope,  on  the  accufatiori  of  herefy,  for 
having  condemned  the  type,  and  not  fufficiently 
honouring  the  mother  of  God.  For  by  the  Mo- 
Tiothelites  the  Catholics  were  always  charged  with 
Neftorianifm.  He  was  alfo  accufed  of  favouring 
the  Saracens.  The  exarch,  having  received  thefe 
orders,  a6lually  feized  the  pope,  tho'  he  was  fick^ 
and  had  his  bed  carried  to  the  porch  of  the  church' 
of  Lateran,  and  Eugenius  was  made  pope  by  the 
authority  of  the  emperor. 

Martin,  being  thus  made  a  prlforier,  was  con- 
duced from  place  to  place  in  his  way  to  Conftan- 
tiriople,  and  fpent  a  whole  year  m  the  ifle  of  Nax- 
6s.  At  length  he  arrived  at  Conftantirioplein  a. 
D.  654,  where  he  was  kept  a  prifonef  three  months, 
without  being  allowed  to  fpeak  to  any  perfon,  an^ 
after  an  irregular  and  infulting  trial  on  the  fubje6^,^ 

I   3  being 


tst  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

being  accufed  chiefly  of  crimes  of  fla^,  he  was  de- 
livered over  to  the  executioner,  confined  among 
the  common  m  defadlors.  and  treated  with  great 
i.nhurnanify.  After  being  kept  feveral  months  in 
this  fituation,  he  was,  at  the  interceflion  of  i  he  pa- 
triarch Paul,  not  put  to  death,  but  banifhed  to 
Ephefus,  where  he  complained  that  he  was  defli- 
tute  of  neceflaries,  and  where  he  died.  a.  d.  655. 
'  Paul  dying,  Peter  the  new  patriarch  of  Con-, 
ftantinople  fent  his  fynodical  letter,  containing,  as 
ufual,  a^confeffion  of  hi^  faith  to  Rome  ;  but  as  he 
did  not  in  it  make  mention  of  two  ivills  and  two 
operations,  it  was  reje£led  by  pope  Eugenius  and 
the  people. 

The  monk  Maximus  having  great  influence  irt 
all  the  Eaft,  it  was  thought  of  particular  confe- 
quence  to  gain  him  to  the  fide  of  the  court;  but 
the  methods  that  were  taken  to  intimidate  him  were 
altoge'her  unfuccefsful.  He  underwent  as  rigor- 
ous an  examination  as  the  pope,  and,  like  him, 
corftantly  refufing  to  communicate  wirh  the  Mo- 
nothelites,  he,  and  two  of  his  difciples  of  the  name 
of  Anaftafius,  were  banifhed  to  Thrace,  where  they 
were  left  in  a  very  deflitute  condition.  Commif- 
fioners,  however,  were  fent  to  hold  a  conference 
with  him  in  the  place  of  his  exile  ;  and  after  this 
he  was  reconduded  to  Conftantinople,  where  ftill 
perfifting  in  his  opinions  and  condud,  he  was  ex- 

pofed 


Sec.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH^  t38 

pofed  to  the  groflfefl  infults,  and  conduced  to  a 
prifon  at  Perbere.  After  this,  a  council  being 
held  on  the  fubje6lat  Conflantinople,  this  old  ma  a 
with  his  two  difciples  were  fentenced  to  be  pub- 
licity whipped,  to  have  their  tongues  cut  out,  and 
their  right  hands  cut  off,  then  to  be  expofed  in  all 
the  flreets  of  Conftantinople,  and  to  be  Tent  into 
banifhment  into  the  country  of  the  Lazi  ;  and  this 
horrid  fentence  was  aftually  executed. 

In  the  fame  council  pope  Martin,  Sophronius 
of  Jerufalem,  and  all  their  adherents,  were  ana- 
thematized. Maximus  was  confined  in  a  caftle 
called  Schamaki,  near  the  country  of  the  Alans, 
where  he  died  a.  d.  662.  He  left  many  writings, 
efpecially  on  the  fubjed  of  Monothelitifm,on  which 
his  mind  had  been  fo  much  employed.  One  of 
his  difciples,  Anaftafius  Apocrifiaire,  was  per- 
mitted, after  much  ill  ufage,  to  retire  to  a  monafte- 
ry,  where,  tho*  he  had  been  deprived  of  one  of 
his  hands,  he  wrote  books.  He  died  in  the  caflle 
of  Thafcume  a.  d.  666. 

The  next  emperor,  Conftantine  Pogonatus, 
finding  it,  no  doubtj  to  be  his  intereft  to  gain  the 
^ope,  without  which  he  could  not  expe£l  any  aid 
from  the  Wefl,  of  which  the  Eallern  empire  then 
flood  in  great  need,  adopted  meafures  the  reverfe 
of  thofe  of  his  predeceffors  ;  and  a  change  in  the 
fentiments,  at  leaft  in  the  condu6l,  of  the  bifhops 

I  ^  itnmc* 


134-  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

immediately,  as  is  ufual,  followed  this  change  in 
the  court;  and  from  this  tim£  the  caufe  ol  Mono* 
thelitifm,  which  had  been  fo  triumphant,  fudden* 
ly  declined. 

This  emperor  began  by  exprefTmg  his  willing-f 
nefs  to  compofe  the  diflPerences  that  had  arifen  be-r 
tween  the  bifhops  of  the  Eafl  and  the  fee  of  Rome, 
in  a  leiter  tp  the  pope,  dated  a.  d.  678,  in  which 
he  promifed  a  fafe  condud   to  any    bjfhops    that 
ihould  be   fent  to   a  conference  or  council  to  be 
held  at  Conftantinople  on  the  fubjed  of  Monothe- 
litifm.       On   this  pope    Agathon  held  a  council, 
and  in  confequence  of  it  addrelfed  a  letter  to  the 
emperor,  in  which  he  gave  the  realons  for  the  faith 
of  the  church  of  Rome  (which  he  fays  could  nut 
err,  according  to  the  promife   of  Chrift  to  Petei) 
in  favour  of  the  do6lrine  of  two  wills  and  two  ope-r 
rations  in   Chrifl ;    expreffing   his   hope  that    the 
iDifhops  in  the  Eafl  would  conform  to  it.      At  the 
fame  time  he  apologizes   for  the  want  of  erudition 
in  the  perfons  he  ihould  fend  to  the  council,    on 
account  ol  the  rude  flate   of  Europe  at  that  time. 
The  letter  from  the  council  is  in  the  fame  flrain, 
complaining   of  the  decay  of  literature,  (of  which 
Fieury  fays  their  letter  is  itfelf  a  proof,)  on  account 
of  their  being  to   provide  for  their  fubfillence  by 
their  labour,    to  which  they  had  been  reduced  by 
the  devaftations  which  the  Barbarians  had  made  in 

tho 


Sbc.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  |3S 

the  patrimonies  of  their  churches.  But  notwiih- 
ftanding  this  they  expreffed  the  greateft  firmnels  in 
the  confeffion  of  their  faith,  and  declared  they 
ibould  receive  as  brothers  thofe  who  joined  them  la 
it,  but  fhould  reje6l,  and  not  even  bear  the  fociety 
of,  thofe  who  fhould  renounce  it. 

Whatever  was  done  at  Rome  was  fure  to  be  ac- 
ceded to  by  all  the  churches  in  her  communion. 
Theodore  archbifhop  of  Canterbury  held  a  eoui.cil 
in  A.  D.  680,  on  the  fubje£l  of  Monoi-helitifm,  in 
which  all  the  bifhops  aflfembletj  profelfed  to  receive 
the  five  general  councils,  and  alio  the  late  one  held 
by  pope  Martin.  Ihis,  being  carried  to  Rome, 
gave  great  fatistaftion. 

In  confequence  of  the  meafures  that  had  been 
taken  in  this  new  flate  of  things  deputies  were  fen-t 
from  Italy  to  Conftantinople;  and  on  their  arrival 
another  general  council,  called  the Jixih,  began  to 
be  held  a.  d.  63o,  and  the  emperor  himfeif  accom- 
panied by  thirteen  of  his  principal  officers,  prefide(i 
ill  it. 

In  this  council  the  do6lrine  of  the  Monothe- 
lltes  was  maintained  by  Macarius  bifhopof  Antioch, 
and  that  of  the  other  party  by  the  legates  from 
Rome,  evidently  favoured  by  the  emperor,  and 
the  appeal  was  made  to  the  language  of  the  Chrif- 
tian  Fathers.  So  far  was  there  from  being  any 
f?-eedom  of  debate  in  this  affembly,  that  in  the  eighth 

I  4  feffion 


156  THE  HISTORY  01«  Per.  XV. 

feflion  Macarius  was  condemned  and  depofed,  in 
the  ninth  the  clergy  from  Rome  pufhed  him  by  the 
(boulders  out  of  the  council,  and  Theophanes.ihe 
abbot  of  Bale  in  Sicily,  who  had  defei.ded  wijat 
was  deemed  the  orthodox  faith  againfl  him,  was 
put  in  his  p^ace.  In  the  tenth  fcffion,  when  ihe 
emperor  left  his  feat  to  four  commiffioners,  the  late 
pafriarchs^  of  Conflantinople,  viz.  Sergius,  P\rr- 
bus,  Paul,  and  Peter,  and  alfo  Honorius  the  late 
pope,  were  anathematized,  as  having  held  herQ*; 
tic-il  and  impious  do6lnne.  Polychronius,  a  pried 
and  monk,  being  examined  before  the  council, 
acknowledged  himfelf  a  Monothelite,  and  propofed 
to  prove  the  truth  of  of  his  do6lrine  by  raifing  a 
dead  man  to  life.  But  the  trial  being  made  with- 
out efFeci,  he  alfo  was  degraded  and  excommuni- 
cated. 

Conflantine,  a  priefl  of  the  church  of  Apamca, 
demanding  to  be  heard,  advifed  the  abflaining 
Iran  perfecution  on  account  of  any  opinion  on  the 
fubje6l  in  queflion  ;  but  appearing  to  be  in  foft  a 
!Monothelite,  faying  that  Chrill  divefted  hirafclf  of 
flefh  and  blood  upon  the  crofs,  and  that  then  he 
had  only  one  will,  which  was  that  of  the  divinity, 
he  was  declared  to  be  a  heretic,  as  holding  the 
do6lrine  of  the  Manicheans,    and  of  Apollinarius. 

In  the  laft  feffion  the  emperor  attended  in  per-' 
fon,  when  one  hundred  and  fixty  bifhops  were  pre- 

fent^ 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  13f 

fcnt,  tho'  they  were  only  forty  at  the  firft.  He 
confirmed  the  decrees  of  the  council,  and  forbade 
any  more  difputing  on  the  fubje6l ;  declaring  that 
any  bifhop,  clerical  perfon,  or  monk,  who  did  not 
conform  to  the  a6l8  of  this  council,  Ihould  be  de- 
pofed  ;  that  if  he  held  any  public  office  he  fhould 
be  deprived  of  it,  and  have  his  goods  confifcated, 
and  it  he  was  a  private  perfon,  he  fhould  be  banifh- 
ed  fifteen  miles  from  Conflantinople,  or  any  other 
city. 

Pope  Agathon  dying  prefently  after  the  celebra- 
tion of  this  council,  the  a£ls  of  it  were  confirmed 
by  Leo,  who  fucceeded  him,  and  who  joined  in 
anathematizing  all  who  had  been  condemned  by  it, 
pope  Honorius  among  the  reft.  But  when  he  fent 
an  account  ot  this  council  to  the  bifhops  in  Spain, 
and  mentioned  the  condemnaiion  of  hispredeceiTor 
Honorius,  it  was  for  not  having  obferved  the  • 
apoftolic  traditions,  which,  as  Fleury  fays,  was  to 
intimate  that  his  cfFence  was  perfonal,  and  did  not 
prejudice  the  apoflolic  fee.  But  if  one  pope  and 
his  council  might  err,  why  might  not  another,  and 
conf^quentiy  all  of  them  ? 

The  fucceeding  pope  Benedi6l  took  much  pains 
to  bring  over  to  the  Catholic  faith  Macarius  the  late 
bifhop  of  Antioch,  who  lived  in  exile  at  RomCj 
but  without  any  efFc£l. 

I  5  Th€ 


4^0?  THE  HISTORY  OF         Fzii.  XV. 

The  emperor,  w-hofe  obje6l  had  been  to  con.- 
pllate  the  bidiops  of  Rome,  in  order  to  pay  a  farther 
.compliment  to  them,  fent  the  hair  of  his  two  fon$ 
tiiither,  and  it  was  received  by  the  pope,  the  cler- 
gy and  the  army,  iu  token  of  taeir  having  adopted 
ihem,  a  cullom  male  uC;e  ulfor.thit  purpose  in 
thole  times. 

As  no  canons  had  been  made  in  e"therof  the 
two  la  ft  general  councils,  another  was  afifvmbied 
iby  the  emperor  Juftmian  II  in  a.  d,  692,  com^ 
xnonly  denominated,  from  the  place  where  it  was 
convened,  within  the  precin-fls  of  the  palace,  la 
Tridlo.  One  hundred  and  eleven  bifliops  met  on 
this  occafion,  and  enabled  many  canons  relatmg 
Lo  difcipline,  which  are  obferved  by  the  Greek 
jcburch  to  this  day.  The  principal  of  them  wer§ 
jfciiat  none  of  the  c'ergy  might  marry  after  their  or- 
/dination,  and  that  biihops  mufl.  abflain  from  any 
commerce  with  the  wives  they  had  before  their 
ordination,  but  that  priefls,  deacons  and  lubdea- 
coOvS  nr?ay  c-ohabit  with  them,  except  on  thofe  days 
jL/n  which  they  approach  the  facied  myfleries. 

The  emperor  lent  copies  of  ihe  decrees  of  this 
(t-ounicil  to  Rome ;  Jiut  iho'  ihey  had  been  figned 
jby  |:lie  pope's  legates  ai  the  time,  he  refufed  to  con- 
Ijrm  fbeip,  pn  arequnl;,  as  Fler.ry  fays,  of  its  being 
(iiibiiden  m  them  to  fad  on  faturdays,  except  on 
ihat  tefpr.e  EaRer  fuaday,    which  was  contrary  to 


Sec.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  159 

the  cuflom  obferved  at  Rome,  and  which  was  ex- 
prefsly  ordered  to  be  correfled.  The  emperor  was 
fo  much  provoked  at  this  refudd,  that  he  (ent  to 
have  the  pope  apprehended ;  but  the  officer  fent 
to  execute  this  commiffion  wi.:h  great  difficulty 
eQ:aped  the  refentment  of  the  Roman  populace. 
Afterwards,  however,  the  emperor  fent  thofe  de- 
crees to  the  fucccding  pope  John  VII  in  the  year 
A.  D.  705,  and,  with  human  weaknefs,  fays  Fieu- 
ry,  he  returiied  them  without  any  alteration. 

The  archbifhop  ot  Aquileia  and  his  fuiTragans 
held  a  council,  in  which  they  objefled  to  the  re- 
ceiving of  the  fifth  general  council,  but  they  wers 
reconciled  to  it  by  pope  Sergius,  who  died  in  a. 

p.  701. 

The  emperor  Philippicus,  who  dethroned  Juf- 
tinian,  \^?is  a  Monothehte  ;  and  he  reverfed  every 
thing  thcit  had  been  done  againft  them  ;  fuch  in- 
fluence had  the  imperial  power  in  al!  thefe  proceed- 
ings. He  fummoncd  a  council  in  which  the  lad 
was  condemned,  and,  as  far  as  appears,  without 
any  oppofition.  lie  expelled  the  patriarch  Cyrus, 
and  put  in  his  place  John,  who  was  a  IMonothe- 
lift  like  himfelf.  In  thefe  proceedings  lie  was  fup- 
ported  by  Germanus  the  metropolitan  of  Cyzicus, 
Andrew  bifhop  oi  Crete,  and  many  other  perfons 
of  great  eminence.  He  even  perfecuted  thofe  who 
fefufed  to  fubfcribe  the  decrees  of  this  council,  ba- 

fiifhing 


%m  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV. 

Iiifliing  fome  of  them,  and  had  the  a£ls  of  the  pre- 
(geding  geperal  council  pubhckly  burned. 

At  Rome,  however,  open  refinance  was  made 
to  all  the  attempts  of  this  emperor  to  enforce  the 
decrees  of  this  new  council,  and  a  fedition  was  oc- 
cafioned  by  the  fending  of  the  emperor's  letters  on 
the  fubjeft  from  Ravenna,  in  which  more  than 
twenty-five  perfons  were  killed  in  the  llreets, 

Prefently  after  this  Philippicus  was  depofed, 
aqd  Anaftalius,  who  was  no  Monothelite,  fucceed- 
irig  him,  all  the  bifhops  then  prefent  at  Conftan- 
tinop'e,  and  all  the  clergy  of  the  place,  proclaimed 
theiixth  council.  The  new  patriarch  of  Conftan- 
tinople  wrote  to  the  pope  to  apologize  for  his  con- 
du6i,  in  joining  with  Philippicus,  as  having  a6led^ 
by  conftraint. 

Cofmas  the  Melchite,  patriarch  of  Alexan- 
dria, abandoned  the  herefy  of  the  Monothehtes, 
\v-hich  had  been  held  by  the  Melchites  from  the 
time  of  the  patriarch  Cyrus.  This  Cofmas  could 
^leither  write  nor  read,  and  was  by  trade  a  needle 
niakcr ;  fo  low  was  this  once  magnificent  fee  at  this 
\ime.  Indeed  the  Melchites  had  but  one  fmall 
f:hurch  in  Alexandria,  all  the  reft  being  held  by 
the  Jacobites,  or  Eutychians.  The  Nubians  alfo 
^'ere  ;ill  Jacobites  m  a.  b.  j^^q,  and  fo  are  the 
Aby(ftn|^n§  ^q  this  day. 

No 


Sec.  IT.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  14i 

No  whole  dfrcription  of  men  continued  thds 
profefTion  of  Monothelinfm  except  the  Maronitts, 
a  people  fo  called  from  inhabiting  a  diflr!6l  near 
mount  L'binus  in  Syria,  called  Marniiis,  or  Mi* 
ronia.  They  were  all  avowed  Monothelites  till  ot 
late  years,  when,  asit  is  faid,  they  fubjefted  thenl- 
felves  to  the  church  of  Rome.     Sueur  a.  d.  G'^G, 


SECTION  II. 

6/  the  Rife  and  Progrefs  of  MahoTrieianiftt, 


1   hi: 


S  period  of  our  hiftory  is  chicHy 
diflitlguifhed  by  the  rife,  and  wonderfully  rapici 
progrefs,  of  a  new  religion,  which  for  fome' time 
threatened  the  extirpation  of  ChriRianity,  and  all 
other  religions  whatever.  But  the  circumilances  irt 
which  it  rofe,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  was  pro- 
pagated, were  exceedingly  different  from  thofe 
ivhich  I  have  related  concerning  the  promulgatioit. 
of  Chriftianity,  and  certainly  much  lefs.  favourable' 
to  its  evidence,  as  will  appear  from  the  following 
fuccin6t  account. 

The  founder  of  this  religion  was  Mahomet,  an 
Arab  of  the  tribe  of  Koreifli,  born  at  Mecca  a.  d, 
568.  When  he  was  two  years  old  he  Joll  his  fathct 
i^bdalla,    and  the   family  being  in  low   circum* 

fiances^ 


149  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XVi 

fiances,  his  uncle  Abutaleb  took  the  care  of  his  edu- 
cation, and  employed  him  in  merchandife  ;  and 
in  this  capacity  he  travelled  to  Damafcas  in  Syria. 
After  this  a  rich  widoiv,  of  the  name  of  Kadijah, 
employed  him  as  her  faftor,  and  then  married  him, 
when  he  was  twenty  years  old,  and  (he  forty.  By 
her  he  had  feveral  children,  and  among  them  a 
daughter  of  the  name  of  Fatima. 

At  the  age  of  forty  Mahomet,  hiving  firft  pre- 
pared himfelf  by  retiring  to  a  cave  in  the  neighbouiy  . 
hood  cf  Mecca,  in  the  month  Ramadan,  began  to 
aflTume  the  chaiafler  of  a  prophet.  His  firft  con- 
vert was  his  wife,  to  whom  he  opened  the  fecret  of 
his  miffion  in  the  cave,  but  it  was  with  much  dif- 
ficulty, and  two  years  after  this  retired  and  auftere 
life,  that  he  gained  her.  During  four  years  he 
taught  only  in  private,  and  did  not  advance  his 
pretenfions  except  to  thofe  with  whom  he  might  na- 
turally expe£i  to  have  the  mofl  influence.  His 
fecond  convert  was  his  flave  Zeyde,  to  whom  he 
thereupon  gave  his  liberty  ;  and  hence  it  became  a 
law  with  the  Mahometans  to  make  their  flaves  free 
whenever  they  embrace  their  religion.  His  third 
(Convert  was  AJi,  the  foa  of  Abutaleb  his  unc'e^ 
and  the  fourth  Abubeker,  who  being  a  mati  of 
chara6ler  and  fortune,  was  foon  followed  by  five 
others,  who  were  afterwards  the  principal  generals 
of  his  armies.      Having  gained  thofe  nine  difciples,- 

he 


it.c.  II.      THE'  CHRISTIAI^  CHURCH.  fU' 

he  began  to  preach  more  openly.      This  was  in  th^ 
forfy-fourth  year  of  his  age  ;     and  in  the  fif;h  yeaV 
of  his  pretended  mifTiOn  he  had  thirty-nine  difciples;^ 
Howev.erthe  men  .  f  his  tribe  in  general  treated  him* 
as  a  madman,  or  an  impoftor,  and  continually  de- 
manded of  him  to  prove  his  divine  miffion  by  miv 
racks.      But  to  this  he  always  anfwered  that  God* 
did  not  fend  him  to  work  miracles,     but  only  to? 
preach;    that  God  had  worked  miracles  enow  by 
Mofes,   jefus  Chrift,  and  other  prophets,  and  that^ 
if  he  had  worked  miiacles   they  would  not  believe:' 
in  him;     At  this  time  tho'  fome  of  the  Arabs  pro-^. 
feffed  the  Jewifh  religion  and  others  the  Chriftian,' 
the  generality  were  Sabians,    or  worfhippcrs  of  ths' 
fun,  moon  and  flars":       In  general  they  were  very' 
ignorant,  and  it  was  but  a  little  before  the  time  oF 
Mahomet  that   his  tribe  hrid  acquired   the  arts  c^ 
Writing  and  reading,   and  it  is  Hud  that  he  himfelP 
tmderftood   neither:       He  pretended   fo  have  fre--* 
quent  conferences  with  th^  angel  Gabriel,   and  that" 
ne  di Elated  to  him  frortt  tinle  to  time  certain  com-" 
poll  ions  ca'Culated  to  fupport  his  midion,  and  en-" 
courage  his  difciples,   mixed  with  precepts  of  mo-' 
rality,  religion,  and  legiflation.      Thefe  being  col-"" 
lefted  after  his  death  compofed  the  Kora'ii]  or  thr 
Bible  of  the  NIahometans. 

Mahomet  did  not  pretend  that  his  rcligitn  was 
new,   but  the  fame  with  that  of  Abraham  and  Ifh-""" 

mael'' 


143  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per,  XV* 

fiances,  his  uncle  Abutaleb  took  the  care  of  his  edu- 
cation, and  employed  him  in  merchandife  ;  and 
in  this  capacity  he  travelled  to  Damafcas  in  Syria. 
After  this  a  rich  widow,  of  the  name  of  Kadijah^ 
employed  him  as  her  faftor,  and  then  married  hnn, 
when  he  was  twenty  years  old,  and  fhe  forty.  By 
her  he  had  feveral  children,  and  among  them  a 
daughter  of  the  name  of  Fatima. 

At  the  age  of  forty  Mahomet,  hiving  fiift  pre- 
pared himfelf  by  retiring  to  a  cave  in  the  neighbour,* 
hood  of  Mecca,  in  the  month  Ramadan,  began  to 
affume  the  charaOer  of  a  prophet.  His  firft  con- 
vert was  his  wife,  to  whom  he  opened  the  fecret  of 
his  mifTion  in  the  cave,  but  it  was  with  much  dif- 
ficulty, and  two  years  after  this  retired  and  auflere 
life,  that  he  gained  her.  During  four  years  he. 
taught  only  in  private,  and  did  not  advance  his. 
pretenfions  except  to  thofe  with  whom  he  might  na- 
turally expeft  lo  have  the  moft  influence.  His 
fecond  convert  was  his  flave  Zeyde,  to  whom  he 
tibereupon  gave  his  liberty  ;  and  hence  it  became  a- 
law  with  the  Mahometans  to  make  their  flaves  free' 
Ijvhenever  they  embrace  their  religion.  His  third 
Convert  was  Ali,  the  fon  of  Abutaleb  his  unc'e, 
and  the  fourth  Abubeker,  who  being  a  man  of 
charader  and  fortune,  was  foon  followed  by  five 
others,  who  were  afterwards  the  principal  generals 
of  his  armies.      Having  gained  thufe  nine  difciples,- 

h<J 


itc.  II. ,  THE'  Christian'  church.        tU 

he  began  to  preach  more  openly.      This  was  in  th^ 
forfy-fourth  year  of  his  age  ;     and  in  the  fif:h  yeaif^ 
of  his  pretended  mifTion  he  had  thirty-nine  difciples;- 
However  the  men  r.f  his  tribe  in  general  treated  him' 
as  a  madman,  or  an  impoflor,  and  continually  de- 
manded of  him  to  prove  his  divine  miffion  by  mi-* 
racks.     But  to  this  he  always  anfwered  that  God? 
did  not  fend  him  to  work  miracles,     but  only  ic? 
preach;    that  God  had  worked  miracles  enow  by" 
Mofes,    [efus  Chrifl,  and  other  prophets,  and  that^ 
if  he  had  worked  miracles    they  would  not  believfe' 
in  him.     At  this  time  tho'  fome  of  tlie  Arabs  pro-, 
feffed  the  Jewifh  religion  and  others  the  Chriftiany 
the  generality  were  Sabians,    or  worfhippcrs  of  the* 
ftm,  moon  and  flars:       In  general  they  were  very 
i|jnorant,  and  it  was  but  a  little  before  the  time  of 
Mahomet  that   his  tribe  had  acquired   the  arts  c^ 
writing  and  reading,    and  it  is  Hiid  that  he  himfclf 
underftood   ncitheh       He  pretended   to  have  ftt^ 
qiient  conferences  with  th^  angel  Gabriel,   and  that' 
he  didated  to  him  froni  tirrie  to  time  certain  com-" 
poll: ions  ca-culated  to  fupport  his  miffion,  and  en- 
courage his  difciples,   mixed  with  precepts  of  mo- 
rality, religion,  and  legiflation.      Thefe  being  Col-": 
k6led  after  his  death  compofed  the  Koran,  or  the' 
Bible  of  the  Mahometans. 

Mahomet  did  not  pretend  that  his  rcligicnxvas 
new,   but  the  fame  with  that  of  Abraham  and  Ifh»' 

mae 


U9  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV« 

from  this  flight  to  Medina  the  Mahometans  date 
their  years,  calling  it  the  asra  of  the  hegira.  At 
Medina  Mahomet  armed  his  followers,  and  on 
Us  defeating  a  party  of  Jews  and  Korefhites  his 
fe£l  greatly  increafed.  In  the  fixth  '  ear  of  the  he- 
gira he  made  a  truce  with  them,  and  in  the  fame 
year  his  followers  Iwore  allegiance  to  him  as  their 
prince  and  legiflator,  as  well  as  prophet.  As  a 
lawgiver  he  allowed  every  man  four  wives,  befidcs 
concubines,  with  the  liberty  of  divorce;  but  he 
himfelf  had  a  much  greater  number,  which,  as  be 
faid,  was  a  privilege  peculiar  to  himfelf. 

The  Korefhites  having  broken  the  truce  in  a.- 
D  629,  he  marched  againfl  them  with  an  army  of 
ten  thoufand  men,  and  entering  Mecca  in  triumph, 
his  authority  was  acknowledged  there.  After  this 
he  ftill  continued  to  refide  at  Medina,  and  only 
went  to  M^'cca  in  pilgrimage  in  the  tenth  year  of 
the  hegira,  and  in  the  year  following  he  died,  in 
the  fixty-thnd  year  of  his  age,  alter  he  had  con- 
qnered  a'moft  the  whole  of  Arabia. 

Mahomet  having  no  fon,  he  was  fucceeded  by 
Abubeker,  the  father  of  his  favourite  wife.  He 
took  the  title  of  Calif,  that  is  vicar,  or  lieutenanl 
of  the  prophet.  It  was  he  who  colle6led  the  chap- 
ters of  the  Koran,  and  publifhed  them  in  one  vo- 
lume. He  reigned  two  years,  and  his  juftice  and 
difmterefleduefs  are  highly  fpoken  of.  He  defeated 

two 


^Ecii.  TKt  Christian  church.        ur 

two  o^her  profeffed  prophets  Armed  and  M<~ufu- 
lem  who  arofe  a  litle  before  the  death  of  Mahorhet, 
and  alfo  a  thud  named  Tahtia.  In  his  fhort  rei^n 
his  fbMoVvers  conquered  the  Arabs  bordering  on 
Perfia.  His  fufccelTor  Omar  took  the  title  of  Corn- 
inander  of  the  faithful,  which  defcended  to  his  fuc- 
Ceffors.  In  his  feign  of  ten  years  he  added  Perfia, 
Syria,  and  Egypt  to  his  empire,  and  in  a.  d.  713 
the  Arabs,  or  Saracens,  took  poflTefTion  of  almoft 
the  who^e  of  Spain.  Theti  they  paffed  the  Pyreri- 
iiees,  and  were  for  foitie  time  rtiafters  of  nearly  orlfe 
half  of  France,  when  they  were  defeated,  and  driven 
out,  by  Charles  Martel,  mayor  of  the  palace,  and 
in  faft  king  of  France.  In  a.  d.  739  the  Sara- 
cens made  a  fcfcorld  invafion  of  France,  when  they 
took  Marfeilles,  Avignon,  and  the  greateft  part  of 
the  fouthern  provinces ;  but  on  the  Lombards  join- 
ing the  French  againft  them,  they  withdrew  into 
Spain. 

The  Saracens  plundered  and  deflroyed  many 
mbhafteries  in  France,  and  put  to  death  feveral  of 
the  monks,  but  efpeeially  in  their  retreat,  aftei* 
being  defeated. 

When  the  bifhops  of  Jerufalem,  Antiocli,  and 
other  places,  could  not  exercife  their  fun6lions  af- 
ter thofe  cities  were  poffeffed  by  the  Saracens,  the 
council  in  Trullo  allowed  them  their  rank  and 
power ;  and  when  they  died  others  were  ordained 

i       K  2  ifS 


.^48  THE  HISTORY  OF  Pjr.  XV. 

in  their  p^ace,  whence  came  the  cuflom  of  ordaii  • 
in>>  b'fhops  in  partibiis^  that  is,  in  partihus  infide-i 
hum 

\^' hen  we  confider  the  extreme  bigotry  of  ihc 
Catholic  Chiiflians  at  the  time  of  the  propagation 
6f  Mahometanifm  with  refpeft  to  the  mofl  piomi- 
nni  doftrine  of  the  Mahometan  creed,  viz.  that  of 
the  unity  of  God,  in  oppofition  to  that  of  a  trinity 
in  the  divine  nature,  we  cannot  be  furprized  at  the 
ofFi  nee  that  was  taken  at  it,  and  thaf  Mahometans 
in  return  fhould  entertain  an  utter  detellatioa  of 
the  creed  of  fuch  Chnflians. 

In  the  lafl  expiring  ftate  of  the  Catholic  church-' 
es  in  Africa,  they  obliged  their  converts  not  only 
to  renounce  Mahometanifm,  but  to  fay,  in  their 
contfliin  of  faith,  "I  curfe  the  God  of  Mahomet, 
*•  who  he  fays  is  one  intire  deity,  neither  begetting,  ' 
•'  nor  being  begotten,  and  like  to  whom  there  is 
«  no  other  Being.  And  I  believe  in  the  Father, 
'•  the  Son.  and  the  Holy  Ghoft,  the  holy,  coef- 
«'  fential.  and  undivided  trinity."  Robinfon^.  i\^< 
Fiw  Chriftians  I  prefume  of  theprefent  age  would 
th^nk  this  conduct  prudent,  whether  they  cuul'd 
CoiiiCieniioufly  adopt  this  language  or  not. 


SECTION 


S&C..IIL  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  i^ 

SECTION   III. 

0/  the    Controverjy    relating    to    the    Worjhip    oj 

An  the  progrefs  of  fuperftition  it  was  na- 
tu»"rl  to  expeft  that  a  particular  regard  would  be 
p  lid  to  the  relics  of  the  Chrdlian  martyrs,  and  to 
any  thing  that  could  affiil  in  recoliecling  their  vir- 
tues, and  among  i\it{Q  piElurcs  and  images  had,  no 
doubt,  their  ufc.  But  from  ihis  natural  and  al- 
lowable, b'dcaufe  ufeful,  kind  ot  refped,  thetranf- 
ition,  in  this  period,  among  people  who  had  not 
1.  ft  all  traces  ofheathenifm  (in  which  image  wor- 
ihip  was  a  predominant  feature)  to  a  fuperilifiorjs 
and  undue  reverence,  was  but  too  eafy.  The  com- 
mon people,  not  content  with  gazing  at  fuch  imi- 
ges,  and  receiving  fome  inftrudion,  and  fome  goo  i 
imprefiTuns,  horn  them,  which  was  the  ufe  that  w aS 
firft  made  of  them,  began  to  bow  down  before  them, 
as  if  the  perfons  whole  images  they  were  had  tliem- 
fdves  been  prefent ;  and  Chna  being  then  confi- 
dered  as  God,  his  pidure,  or  image,  was  worfhip- 
ped,  as  he  himfelf  was.  This  pradiee  was  proba- 
bly encouraged  with  a  view  to  draw  the  Heaihens 
from  the  worfhip  of  their  idols,  on  the  fame  prin- 
ciple as  their  feftivals  had  been  kept  up  with  a  no« 
)i?inal  change  in  the  objea  and  ufe  of  them. 
'  K  3  Many 


Ue  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV, 

Many  perfons,  however,  of  jufter  views,  and 
greater  difcernment,  did  not  fail  to  remonftrate 
a^ainfi  this  pra<S;1:ice,  and  among  thefe  the  perfons 
who  took  the  greateft  offence  at  it  in  the  Ealt  were 
Conftantine,  the  bifhop  of  NacoHa  and  the  em- 
peror Lto  Ifauncus,  who  unhappily  (but  as  we 
have  feen  it  was  univerfally  done  in  thofe  ;imcs) 
employed  power  and  violence  to  gam  his  purpole. 
The  peculiar  rage  of  the  Mahometans  againfl  all 
image  worfhip,  as  a  fpecies  of  idolatry,  is  thought ; 
to  have  drawn  the  more  particular  attention  gl  the 
Chriftians  of  this  age  to  the  fubje6l. 

Germanus  patriarch  of  Conftantinople,  as  well 
a§  the  populace  ot  that  city,  was  an  advocate  for  the 
prevailing  fii perdition.  He  wrote  feveral  letters 
now  extant  on  the  fubje£l,efptcia  ly  to  John  biihop 
of  Synada  in  Phiygia,  the  metropolitan  of  Conflan'. 
tine  of  Nacolia.  In  thefe  letters  he  difclaims  all 
proper  worfliip  except  to  God,  but  expreffes  his 
wilhes  that  antient  and  ufeful  cuftoms  might  be 
kept  up.  He  alfo  urges  the  miracles  that  he  faid 
had  been  wrought  by  images,  efpecially  one  of  the 
virgin  Mary  at  Sozopolis  in  Pifidia,  which  had 
fent  a  liquid  perfume  from  her  painted  hand,  of 
which  he  (ays  there  were  many  witnclTes.  At  the 
fame  time,  however,  he  difclaims  the  ufe  of  ftatues, 
Heivrote  alfo  to  p-pe  Gregory  onthefubjeCt,  who- 

ia 


S£C.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  15| 

in  return  exprefled  his  approbation   of  his  fenti- 
m^^nts. 

An  earthquake  happening  in  an  ifland  of  the 
jirehipela^o  in  the  tenth  year  of  the  emperor  Leo, 
he  imigin^id  it  was  a  judgment  of  God  for  the  wor- 
Ihip  ot  imij^es  ;  and  aflembhng  the  people  of  Con- 
ftantinople,  he  addreffed  them  on  th-  fubjctl,  but 
in  fuc'i  a  manner  as  gave  them  great  ofF.nce.  The 
pjople  of  Greece,  and  the  inhibitants  ot  the  Cy- 
clades,  even  made  this  a  pretence  for  a  revolt,  and 
they  fet  up  another  emperor  named  Cofmas,  but 
their  generals  being  defeated  on  their  approach  to 
Co-iftantinople,  the  revolt  was  fuppreflcd.  Not 
content  with  what  he  had  done  himfelf,  the  empe- 
ror, in  the  year  a.  d.  730,  affembled  a  council  at 
Conftantinople,  in  which  a  decree  was  made  againft 
tjie  worfliip  of  images,  and  the  patriarch  Germanus 
ycfufing  to  fubfcribe  it  was  depofed,  and  ended  his 
days  in  a  monaftery. 

The  emperor  purfued  his  purpofe,  and  in  exe- 
cution oi  the  orders  of  the  council,  began  with  de- 
mohfhifig  an  image  of  Chrift  within  the  precin6ls 
of  the  palace,  which  was  famous  for  the  miracles 
faid  to  have  been  wrought  by  it.  But  the  perfon 
who  executed  the  order  was  killed  on  the  fpot  by 
fpme  women.  In  the  place  of  the  ima^e  he  erefted 
a  fimple  crofs,  with  an  infcription,  to  fhew  that 
tlie  image  had  been  removed.       Tae  women  who' 


l^^  THE  PHSTORY  OF         Per.  X¥, 

had  been  guilty   of  the  murder,   and   fome  ot^er 
perfons  who  had  been  their  abettors,  were  put  ta 
death.      He  did  not,  however,   order  the   demoli- 
tion in  all  places,  but  contended  himfeif  with  for:-- 
bidding  the  woifliipof  them.  MoJIieim,  Vol.  2.  p.  9Q« 

It  %vould  have  beeri  happy  if  he  had  contentt.<J' 
himfeif  with   punilhing  perfons  for  fuch    violent: 
breiches  of  the  peace  as  this.   But  his  librarian  CE-" 
cumnicus  and  twelve  of  his  afhllants,    who  tauglil? 
both  religion  and  the  fciences,  not  comp'ying  with 
the  emperorfs  wifhes  in  this  bufinefs,  he  furrounded 
the  place  with  faggots,   and  burned  both  them  and 
the  librsiry.       He  then  ordered  ail    the  images  of 
the  virgin  Mary  and  other  faints  to  be  brought  to 
a  public  place  and  burned,  and  the  walls  of  the. 
churches  that  had  been  painted  to  be  white  wafhed. 
They  who  refufcd  to  obey  the  order  were  punifhed/ 
fome  with  death,  and  others  with  mutilation. 

When  the  nexvs  of  this  perfecution  reached 
Italy,  the  ftatues  ol  the  emperor  were  thrown  down, 
and  trampled  upon  by  the  populace  of  Rome.  The 
emperor,  however,  wifhing  to  gain  the  pope,  fent 
him  his  decree  againft  images,  promifing  him  his 
favour  if  he  complied  with  it,  and  threatening  him 
with  depofition  if  he  did  not.  The  pope,  far  froni 
complying,  exerted  himfeif  all  he  could  in  refilling 
the  will  of  the  emperor,  tho'  he  did  not,  as  fome. 
haye  faid,  excommunicate  him,  {Mojheim^  Vol.  2.  ; 

P'  92') 


Inc.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ip^, 

p.  92.)  and  the  people  of  Ita^y  in  general  took  hi^" 
part.     The  inhabitants  of  the  Pentapolis  alfo,  and 
of  the  territory  of  Venice,  rej^ded  the  oiders  ot  the^ 
jcmperor.      The  clergy    even   anatheinatized  the> 
exarch  Paul,   and  him  that  employed  him,  meani-, 
ing  the  emperor  himfelf,  and  all  who  fhould  obey;, 
him  ;    and  the  people  of  Italy    in  general  joining, 
them,   they  refolved  to  chufe   another  emperor  j> 
but  the  pope,  not  willing  to  proceed  fo  far,    di- 
verted them  from  their  purpofe.      However,  in  con-^ 
fequence  ot  this  the  emperor  eventually  loit  all  the 
^xarchate,  which  fell  to  the  Lombards. 

On  the  other  hand,  Exhilaratus  duke  of  Nap- 
les, beingmafter  of  Campania,  perfuaded  the  people 
of  that  province  to  obey  the  emperor,  and  put  the 
pepetode^th;  but  the  people  of  Rome  f  izing  him 
put  him  to  d'.ath,  and  his  fon.  They  alfo  ex-- 
pelled  Peter  the  duke  of  Rome,  becaufe  they  fup-=> 
pofed  that  he  had  written  to  the  emperor  againft 
the  pope.  At  Ravenna  the  people  were  divided, 
and  the  diflPerent  parties  coming  to  blows,  Paul  the 
exarch  was  killed. 

Gregory  III,  who  fucceeded  Gregory  II,  in 
4.  D.  731,  wrote  a  long  letter  of  remonflrance  to 
the  emperor  on  the  fubje^i  of  the  worlhip  ol  images, 
^e-fendmg  it  as  an  antient  pra6J;ice,  and  a  worfhip 
that  was  only  reladve,  and  not  that  of  the  v/ood  or 
iione  of  v/hich  they  con  Oiled,      Cod  forbid,  fay  5 


'■-♦ 


J54  "FHE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV. 

he,  that  we  fhould  put  our  tvuft  in  there  image  s.  II 
it  be  that  of  our  Saviour,  we  fay  "Lord  JefusChnft, 
««  fon  of  God.  fuccour  us,  fave  us  ;  It  it  be  that  of 
«  the  virgin  Mary,  we  fay,  holy  mother  of  God 
pray  to  thy  f  n,  that  he  may  fave  our  fouls  j  If  it 
«*  be  the  martyr  Stephen,  we  lay  holy  Stephen,  who 
*''  fbed  your  blood  tor  Chnft,  and  who  have  io 
«*  much  influence  with  him,  pray  for  us/'  bjjtak- 
iup  of  the  defign  of  the  emperor  to  have  his  prclf- 
celFor  Cc  rried  m  chanis  to  ^  onftantinople,  he  laid 
the  popes  were  the  mt-diators  and  arbiters  of  peate 
between  the  Eafl  and  the  Wtlf.  He  added  "  Vi  e 
*  fear  not  your  menaces.  At  the  diflance  ol  a 
•*  league  from  Rome  we  are  in  fafcty,"  meaning 
in  the  dominions  of  the  Lombards. 

The  violence  of  the  emptror  induced  Gregory 
to  call  a  council  on  the  lubjett  at  Rome  in  a.  d, 
732,  when  ninety -three  biihops  attended,  without 
including  the  pope,  Anthony  archbifliop  of  Gra* 
6d,  or  John  of  Ravenna.  All  the  clergy  of  Rome 
vere  alfo  prefent  with  the  nobles,  the  confuls,  and 
the  people  in  general ;  when  it  was  unanimoufly 
jigreed  that  all  perlons  who  Ihould  deftroy,  or  even 
fpeak  with  contempt  of,  the  holy  images  (hould 
|je  feparated  from  the  communion  of  the  church. 

The  emperor,  provoked  at  th>s  oppc  fition  of 
the  pope,  and  the  revolt  of  Italy,  on  this  occrffionj 
fitted  out  a  fleet,  and  fent  it  to  Italy  to  fupport  his 

8UthQ» 


Sec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  15^ 

authority  in  that  country;  but  it  was  (hipwrecked 
in  the  Adriatic.      He  alfo  confifcated  all  the  pa- 
trimony of  St.  Peter  in  the  countries  fubjeft  to  him 
which  amounted  to  a  very  great  fum.     In  return 
the  people  of  Rome  took  an  oath  to   defend  the 
pope  both  againft  Leo,  and  Luitprand  king  of  the 
Lombards,  to  whom  they  ceafed  to  pay  any  tribute  ; 
and  this  was  the  origin  of  the  temporal   power  of 
the  popes,   tho'  they  were  not  yet  temporal  princes. 
Qiannone  Yo\.  1.  p.  246.  248.     The  emperor  a'fo 
imprifoned  or  banifhed  thole  in  the  Eaft,  who  did 
pot  concur  with  him  with  refpeft  to  images. 

John  of  Damafcus,  many  of  whofe  writings  are 
now  extant,  being  out  of  the  power  of  the  empe« 
ror,  wrote  on  this  occafion  in  defence  of  imao^e 
worfliip,  acknowledging  the  authority  of  the  em- 
peror in  things  of  a  civil  nature,  but  ftroHgly  dif- 
claiming  it  in  all  things  ecclefiaftical,  and  fore- 
warning him  of  the  judgments  of  God  for  his  pro- 
ceedmgs  againft  his  true  fervants,  by  the  example 
of  Saul,  Jezebel,  and  Herod, 

In  A.  D.  754  Conftaritine  Copronymus,  who 
lucceeded  Leo,  both  in  the  empire,  and  his  zeal 
againft  image  worfhip,  held  a  council  at  Conftan- 
tinoples  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  bilhops 
on  the  fubje6l.  It  lafted  fix  months,  and  in  the 
confeflion  of  taith  which  they  made  on  this  occafion, 
they  charge  the  worlhippers  of  images  with  mmy 


|g5  THE  HISTORY  Ot  Per.  XV. 

Jierefies,  efpecially  that  of  NeRorius  ;  faying  rhafe 
the  true  image  of  Chrift  was  the  Eucharift,  cotn- 
paring  the  union  of  Chrift  with  the  elements  to  the. 
un  on  of  the  logos  with  human  flefh  in  the  in.arnav 
tion.  The  making,  or  the  adoration  of,  imagCvS  i» 
hy  this  council  forbidden  upon  pain  of  depofiMon 
to  ill  clergy,  and  of  anathema  to  monks  and  lay- 
jnen.  They  conclude  with  declaring  their  unani- 
jnity  in  this  bufinefs,  and  with  anathemas  aiaainft 
jGermanus  of  Conftantinople,  George  of  Cvprus, 
and  John  of  Damafcus.  In  confequence  ol  this 
council  images  were  burned  m  all  the  churches, 
and  elFaced  from  the  wa'ls  on  which  ihey  were 
painted.  Copronymus  moreover  ordered  his  fub- 
ie6ls  to  wo  fhip  one  God,  that  no  perfon  (hould 
]bs  called  a  faint,  that  no  relics  ihould  be  adored, 
no  departed  fpiiits  invoked,  not  even  the  vn-^in 
Mary  herfelf :  who  he  faid  was  after  the  birtii  of 
jcfus  no  more  than  any  other  woman,  Ruiuifun 
p.  169. 

The  perfon  who  fuffered  the  moft  for  defending 
|he  worlhip  of  images  at  this  time  was  the  monk 
^fephen  pt  Auxcnce.  He  was  cruelly  ufed  by  the 
gmperor,  and  after  having  been  longbanifhed,  wa§ 
repoited  to  have  wrought  many  miracles  by  pre- 
feating  an  image  of  Chrift  to  be  worfliipped  by  fick 
perfons.  Being  interrogated  on  the  lubje6l  of  hia 
idith  in  the  prefeuce  of  the  emperor,  he  difclamiecj 

all 


Sec,  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH^         -ist 

all  wrfhi'p  of  the  materials  of  which  images  were 
made-  The  emperor  at  the  fame  time  difclaiming 
all  difrefped  'O  (  hrift,  tho'  he  trampled  upon  his 
image,  the  monk  produced  a  piece  of  money  on 
which  was  the  image  of  the  emperor,  and  throwing 
it  on  the  ground  trampled  on  it.  But  for  this  ar- 
gument he  was  fent  to  prifon,  to  be  tried  for  vio- 
lating aiaw  that  had  been  made  with  refpefl  to  fuch 
a£lions.  Stephen  was  afterwards  taken  out  of  pri- 
fon bv  order  of  the  emperor,  and  killed  by  a  blovf 
On  the  head  by  one  of  the  perfons  who  were  drag- 
ging him  about  tbe  ftreets.  After  he  was  dead:, 
the  bodv  was  ftill  dragged  about  the  flreets,  and' 
much  abufed. 

Conflantine,  the  late  patriarch  of  Conilanti- 
Jiople,  was  brought  from  the  place  of  his  banifh- 
ment,  and  after  a  formal  degradation  carried  thro* 
the  ftreets  of  Conftantinople  on  an  afs,  with  his 
face  towards  the  tail,  and  then  beheaded,  a.  d. 
767.  This  Conflantine  having  baptized  two  of 
the  emperor's  children,  was  jullly  confidered  as  aiV 
aggravation  of  this  (hocking  cruelty. 

The  nionks  in  general  being  advocates  for  the 
worfhip  of  im-iges,  the  emperor  did  every  thing  ia' 
his  power  to  fupprefs  them,  after  ufmg  both  pro- 
rriifes  and  threatnmgs  to  gain  them,  putting  out 
the  eyes  of  many,  and  banifhing  others. 

The 


r  158  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XV* 

The  Weftern  church  was  as  zealous  in  the  de* 
fence  of  image  worfliip  as  the  Eaftem  in  the  fup* 
predion  of  it.  At  a  council  held  at  Rome  in  a.  d» 
^69.  it  was  decreed  that  the  relics  and  images  of 
the  faints  fhould  be  honoured  according  to  antient 
ufage,  and  the  council  held  at  Conftantinople  was 
anathematized;  but  the  fhocking  cruelties  prafticed 
in  the  Eaft  were  not  imivated  in  the  Weft. 

Leo  the  fon  of  Conftahtme  was  as  great  ah  en©* 
my  of  image  worfhipas  his  father;  but  on  his  death* 
Irene  his  widow  being  si  ftrenuous  advocate  foif 
them,  and  her  fon  Conftantine  being  only  ten  yeara 
of  age,  and  fhe  governing  in  his  name,  things  foon 
took  a  different  turn,  both  withrefpeft  to  the  wor- 
fliip of  images,  and  the  monaftic  life,  which  any 
perfon  was  now  at  full  liberty  to  erhbraCe.  And 
there  cannot  be  a  greater  proof  of  the  decifive  in- 
fluence cf  power  in  all  proceedings  of  this  nature^ 
than  the  fudden  tranfition  from  feeming  unanimity 
on  one  fide  of  the  queflioil  to  as  great  apparent 
Unanimity  on  the  oppofite  fide.  It  was  probably 
the  fame  political  motive  that  operated  in  this  cafe 
as  in  that  of  the  Monothelites.  The  concurrence 
of  the  popes,  and  of  the  powers  of  the  Weft^  was 
thought  neceffary  in  the  then  hazardous  ftate  of  the 
Grecian  empire. 

In  A.  D.  784  Paul  the  patriarch  of  ConftantiA' 
tiople,  being  fick,  retired  to  a  monaflery,  when, 

bemg 


Sec. III.   THE  CHRISTIAN  CHUI?ril  i9^' 

being  vifited  by  the  emperor,  and  emprefs.  and  vo 
f!/'uht  bein^appri  zed  oftheir  views,  he 'Tknowlfd^ei:! 
hrs  weaknefs  in  ioir  irg  in  the  condemnifion  of  im- 
a^e  w'^rfhip,  in  ob  dience  to  the  orders  of  the  f  irmer 
emperors,  and  pn  fently  after  this  con feflfi on  he  died. 
His  fucceffor  Tarafius.  as  well  apprized  of  the  new 
ftate  ot  things,  refuted  to  acCept  ef  that  dignity, 
unlefs  a  genera!  council  was  called  to  heai  ihe  di- 
vilions  of  the  church  on  the  fubjc6l  of  image  wor- 
ihip.  Application  was  then  made  to  the  pope, 
ivho  confen^ed  to  the  calling  of  the  council,  pro- 
vided the  firfl  th^ng  that  fhould  be  done  was  the 
anathematizing  of  the  former  cou.  ciJ.  He  even 
cxprefTed  his  wifh  that,  if  it  were  polTible,  theim-* 
a^es  might  be  replaced  in  the  churches  before  the 
council  was  held. 

With  fome  difficulty  legates  from  the  churched 
of  Jerufalem,  Antioch,  and  Alexandria,  were 
procured  to  attend  this  council,  tlie  Saracens  to 
whom  thofe  cities  were  now  fubjefl  being  natural^ 
ly  jealous  of  fuch  afTemblies.  At  length,  the  firft 
of  Auguft  A.  D.  786,  was  fixed  for  the  holding  of 
this  council,  in  the  church  of  the  twelve  apoftles  at 
Conftantinople.  But  ihe  majority  of  the  Eaftera 
bifhops  being  againft  the  worlhip  of  images,  or  as 
they  were  then  called  Iconoclajls,  and  thedefign  of 
the  council  being  weil  known,  they  were  very  cla- 
^.vious  againft  it,  as  being  in  direft  oppolition  to 

that 


^60  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV; 

that  which  had  been  held  in  the  fame  place  before.; 
and  being  joined  by  the  old  foldiers,  attached  to 
the  principles  of  the  emperor  Conftantine,  it  was 
found  neceifary  to  fend  for  other  troops  to  overawe 
them ;  and  orders  were  given  to  hold  the  council 
at  Nice  the  24th  of  September  a.  d.  787,  where 
the  bifhops  accordingly  met,  to  the  number  of 
three  hundred  and  feventy-feven. 

The  council  was  opened  by  a  fpeech  of  Tara- 
iins    patriarch  of  Conftantinople,    exhorting  the 
b'ftiops  to  reje6l  all  novelties,    and  adhere  to  the 
traditions  df  the  church,    which  he  faid  could  not 
err,  and  faid  that  they  who  had  oppofed  the  truth' 
the  yearbefofe  might  attend,  and  give  their  reafons. 
^ The  bifhops  iiccu fed   of  this  refradory  difpofition 
"being  then  ordered  to  enter,    the  commiffioners  of 
the  emperor  read   to  them  a  letter  which   he  had 
addreffed  to  fhem,    exhorting  them  to'  give  peace 
to  ihe  church.      Upon  this  Bafil  bifhop  of  Ancyra, 
Theodore  of  Myra,  and  Theodofius  of  Amorium, 
flood  up,    when  the  firft  named  of  thern  made  an 
ample  conteffion  of  his  former  herefy,and  requefted 
to  be  reunited  to  the  Catholic  church ;     faying  he 
received  with  all    honour    the   holy  relics  of  the 
faints.      "  I  adore  them,"  he  faid,    "  with  venera- 
"  tion,  hoping  to  partake  of  their  holynefs.      I  al- 
"  fo  receive  the  venerable  images  of  [efus  Chrift, 
*'  of  his  holy  mother,  of  the  angels,  and  all  faints. 


§EC.III.   THE  CHRISTIAN  GHUftCH.  161 

"  I  embrace  them,  and  give  them  the  adoration 
"  of  honour.  I  reje6t  and  from  my  heart  anathe- 
■'  matize  the  falfe  council  called  the  feventh,  as 
*•  contrary  to  the  traditions  of  the  church."  He 
added  much  more  to  the  fame  purpofe,  and  was 
followed  in  the  fame  flrain  by  the  other  two. 

Aftcr  this  feven  other  bifbops,  who  had  op* 
pofed  the  holding  of  this  council  the  year  before^ 
Hood  up,  and  made  their  fubmifiion.  Then,  with- 
out any  debate  on  the  fubjc^,  followed  a  difcuflion 
of  the  manner  in  which  penitents  fhould  be  re- 
ceived ;  and  one  of  the  bifhops  afking  in  what 
rank  they  fhould  place  this  new  herefy  of  the  ico- 
iioclafls,  which  they  were  aflembled  to  oppofe, 
John  the  legate  from  the  churches  of  Jerufalbm 
and  Antioch  (for  he  was  fent  by  both)  replied^ 
it  was  worfe  than  any  that  had  preceded  it,  as  ie 
deftroyed  the  incarnation. 

In  the  fecond  feflion  Gregory  of  Meocaefarea*^ 
One  of  the  mod  celebrated  of  the  Iconoc^afts,  and 
who  had  dillinguifhed  himfelf  the  moll  in  the 
preceding  council,  acknowledged  his  offence,  and 
aiked  pardon.  The  letter  of  the  pope  being  then  j 
r€ad,  except  a  part  in  which  he  had  complained  of 
the  affumption  of  the  title  of  univerfal  bifhop  by 
the  patriarch  of  Conftantinopie,  and  had  afked  the 
reftitution  of  the  patrimony  of  his  church,  Tarafus 
laid  he  had  expreffed  his  own  fentiments.  Images, 
-      Vol.  III.  L  he 


i6«  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV. 

he  faid,  mufl  be  adored  with  a  relative  affefliort, 
referving  to  God  alone  the  worfhip  oilatreia.  All 
the  bifhops  prefent,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred 
and  fixty  one,  declared  they  entertained  the  famo 
fentiments,  and  the  monks  did  the  fame. 

At  this  council  was  read  a  difcourfe  attributed 
to  Athanafius,  containing  an  account  of  a  miracle 
wrought  by  an  image  of  Chrifl,  which  had  been 
pierced  by  fome  Jews,  and  from  which  had  iffued 
blood,  which  cured  feveral  fick  perfons.  Thia 
piece  is  acknowledged  by  Fleury  to  be  fpurious, 
and  the  fa6l  to  be  doubtful ;  but  he  maintains  that 
this  circumftance  did  not  invalidate  the  decifion. 
He  only  remarks  on  this  occafion,  that  of  fo  many 
bifhops  none  feem  to  have  been  verfed  in  criticifm  ; 
for  many  fpurious  produ£lions  were  cited;  a  proof, 
he  fays,  of  the  ignorance  of  the  age.  But  he  mufl 
have  been  a  bold  man  who,  if  he  had  entertained 
a  doubt  of  the  genuinenefs  of  thofe  writings,  fhould 
ip  that  aflfembly  have  maintained  his  opinion. 

In  the  fifth  fefhon  images  were  ordered  to  be 
replaced  in  the  churches,  and  one  being  brought 
into  the  aflfembly,  they  all  faluted  it  in  form.  They 
alfo  direfted  that  all  books  condemning  the  wor* 
fliip  of  them  fhould  be  burned. 

In  the  fixth  feffion,  the  council  of  a.  d.  74^ 
was  condemned,  as  not  having  had  the  concurrence 
cf  the  pope,  or  that  of  the  patriarchs  of  Jerufalem, 

An* 


Sec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  Ut 

Antiocli,  or  Alexandria,  and  as  having  even  been 
anathemafized  by  thebifhops  of  thofe  churches. 

In  the  feventh  feffion  the  members  of  this  coun- 
cil drew  up  and  figned  a  confeflion  of  their  faith, 
to  the  purport  abovementioned,  and  it  was  figned 
by  the  legates,  and  all  the  bifhops,  to  the  number 
of  three  hundred  and  five.  They  anathematize4 
the  council  of  Conftantinople  which  had  decided 
againft  the  worfliip  of  images,  and  fome  of  the  Ico- 
noclallic  writers  by  name;  and  addrefled  a  letter 
to  the  pope,  informing  him  of  what  they  had  done. 

The  laft  feflion  of  this  council  was  held  at  Con- 
ftantinople,  when  the  emprefs  Irene  was  prefent, 
with  the  emperor  her  fon,  and  the  confeffion  of 
faith  was  recited,  and  figned  by  them  both.  They 
concluded,  as  ufual,  with  loud  acclamations,  and. 
the  emprefs  bellowed  great  liberalities  upon  all  the 
bifhops.  And  from  her  they  were  fully  intitled  to 
them.  / 

In  the  canons  of  this  council  it  was  ordered^ 
that  no  churches  (hould  be  confecrated  without  re- 
lics. 

Thus  fmoothly  were  all  things  dondu6led  in  fa^ 
vourof  the  worfhip  of  images  in  the  Eaft,  and  in 
Italy ;  but  the  cafe  was  different  in  the  countries 
fubjea  to  Charlemagne,  who  is  faid  to  have  been 
diffatisfied  with  the  condua  of  Irene,  who  had  de- 
»ianded  his  daughter  for  her  fon,    and  afterwards 

I-  2  married 


164  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 


f 


married  him  to  another.   Whatever  may  be  afcribed 
to   the  influence  of  this  political  fituation,    when 
the  pope  fent  a  copy  of  the  decrees  of  the  preced- 
ing^ council   to   Charlemagne,    he  affemblcd    the 
bifhops  of  his  extenfive  dominions,  none  of  whom 
had  attended  the  council,  .and  they  drew  up  a  long 
letter  in  the  name  of  the  king  in  feveral  books,  and 
thence  called  Caroline  books,  in  which  they  exprefs 
their  difapprobation   of  both  the   councils    which 
had  been  held  on  the  fubje6t  of  the  worfhip  of  im- 
images,  that  cf  Conflantinople,  and  that  of  Nice, 
recommending  the  ufe  of  images,    but  not  for  the 
purpofe  of  adoration.      They  fay  they  receive  the 
fix  firfl  councils,  but  that  they  rejeft  all  novehies, 
efpecial'y  the  council  which  ordered  the  adoration 
of  images,  the  a6ls  of  which  they  fay  were  dcftitute 
both  of  eloquence  and  common  fenfe.     The  coun- 
cil of  Nice,  they  fay,  cannot  be  allowed  to  be  uni- 
verfal,  becaufe  there  were  not  in  ii  bilhops  from  all 
parts  of  the  world,    and   becaufe  its  decifions  are 
not    agreeable    to    the   dodlrine  of  the  univerfal 
church.      Alcuin,  a  learned  Englifliman  employed 
by   Charlemagne   to  teach  the  fciences  in  France, 
alfo   wrote    againft    the  decrees  of   the  council  of 
Nice,    in  a  letter  addreffed  to  this  prince,     in  the 
name  of  the  bilhops  and  foverei^ns  of  England. 

Charlemagne,    not  content  with  this,    having 
Galled  another  council  of  all  the  ftates  fubjed   to 

him 


Sec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  u: 

Limat  Frankfort  a.  d.  794,  to  fettle  various  eccle- 
liaftical  matters,  the  adoration  of  images  was  then 
rejefted  unanimoufly,  and  great  contempt  of  it  ex- 
prefled.  Speaking  of  the  council  held  by  the 
Greeks  on  the  fubjeft,  in  the  decrees  of  which  it 
was  faid  that  "  whoever  does  not  render  to  the  im- 
*'  ages  of  Chrift  fervice  and  adoration  as  to  the  di- 
•'  \'ine  trinity,  let  him  be  anathema,"  they  fay, 
We  defpife  and  rejed  this  fervice  and  adoration 
unanimoufly. 

Notwithftanding  this  harfh  condemnation  of 
the  decrees  of  a  council  in  which  the  pope  concur- 
red, Adrian,  writing  to  Charlemagne,  treated  him 
with  the.  greateft  refpea.  In  juftification  of  his 
own  condua  he  alleged  chiefly  two  councils  held 
at  Rome  againft  the  Iconoclafts  in  a.  d.  732  and 
A.  D.  769,  in  the  lafl;  of  which  twelve  bifliops 
from  France  aflifted,  and  when  neverthelefs  it  was 
agreed  that  images  fliould  be  honoured.  He  alfo 
quoted  a  paffage  from  a  leiter  of  St.  Gregory,  where 
he  fays  that  images  are  ufeful  for  inflruaion,  tho' 
God  only  is  to  be  adored.  He  faid  he  received 
the  canons  of  the  council  of  Nice,  becaufe  they 
were  agreeable  to  the  opinion  of  pope  Gregory,  and 
becaufe  he  feared  that  if  he  did  not  receive  them 
the  Greeks  would  return  to  their  errors,  and  he 
ihould  have  been  refponfible  for  the  lofs  of  many 
/buls.     Neverthelefs  he  added  that  he  had  not  then 

L  3  givea 


166  THE  HISf  ORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

given  any  anfwer  to  the  emperor  on  the  fubjefi;  of 
the  council,  and  that,  if  he  thought  proper,  at  ihe 
fame  time  that  he  thanked  the  emperor  for  the 
yeftoration  of  images,  he  would  prefs  him  on  the 
fubjeft  of  the  reflitution  of  the  pa  rnnuny  of  his 
church ;  and  that  if  he  refufed  to  make  this  n  flitu- 
tion,  he  would  declare  him  a  heretic.  Fleury  fays 
the  pope  had  deferred  fending  his  letters  to  Con- 
flantinople  on  account  of  the  uncertain  ftate  of 
thincTs  there,  and  the  great  power  of  the  Iconoclafts, 
That  they  were  ftill  very  numerous  there,  appears 
from  this  circumftance,  that  when  the  patriarch 
Tarafus  had  threatened  the  emperor  with  excom- 
munication for  divorcing  his  wife,  and  marrying 
another,  he  did  not  venture  to  provoke  him  fo 
much,  left  he  fhould  join  the  Iconoclafls. 

It  is  evident  from  thefe  proceedings  in  the  Weft, 
that  no  idea  was  at  this  time  entertained  of  the  in- 
fallibility of  the  popes. 


SECTION 


S«c.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,         i^r 


SECTION  IV. 

0/the  Controverfy  occajioned  hy  the  Opinion  of  Eli" 
p and  of  Toledo,  and  Felix  ofUrgela,  concerning 
ihc  Senfe  in  which  Chrijt  is  the  Son  of  God, 


H 


ITHERTO  we  have  feen  that  all 
the  controverfies  concerning  the  perfon  of  Chrifl 
bad  their  origin  in  the  Eaft.  In  this  period  one 
was  ftartedinthe  Weft,  andtho'  the  confequencea. 
of  it  were  not  fo  great,  or  fo  lafting,  as  thofe  of  the 
preceding  ones  on  fimilar  fubjefts,  they  were  hy 
qo  means  inconfiderable  at  the  time. 

In  A.  D.  790  Ehpand  bifhop  of  Toledo,  con- 
fulting  Felix  bifhop  of  Urgela  in  Catalonia,  about, 
the  fenfe  in  which  Chrift  was  the  fon  of  God,  the 
hitter  anfwered,  that  he  was  his  fon  by  adoption, 
and  not  by  nature ;  an  opinion  which  was  well  re- 
ceived, and  maintained,  by  Elipand,  as  it  was  by 
Afcaric  of  Braga.  It  alfo  fpread  much  in  the  Af« 
turies,  Gallicia,  and  the  fouthern  provinces  of 
France. 

Pope  Adrian  hearing  of  this,    wrote  to   the 
bifhops  ol  Spain,  exhorting  them  to  adhere  to  the  - 
do6irine  of  the   Fathers  on  the  fubje6t.       On  re- 
teiving  this  letter,   Elipand  called  a  council  at  To- 
Ifido,  but  neither  the  pope's  letter,  nor  any  thing  r 

L  4  that 


165  THE  HISTOR^  OF  Per.  Xr^ 

that  paffed  there,  led  him  to  change  his  opinion, 
tho'  oppofed  by  Beatus,  a  prieft  and  monk  in  the 
Afturies,  and  Ethurius  his  difciple,  afterwards 
bifhop  of  Ofma,  who  recovered  many  who  had 
embraced  the  opinion  of  Elipand.  This,  however, 
did  not  difcourage  the  archbilhop,  and  wrifing 
againfl  his  opponents,  he  faid  that,  they  who  hold 
that  Chrift  was  the  adopted  fon  of  God  according 
to  his  humanity  only,  and  not  according  to  his 
divinity  alfo,  were  heretics.  He  faid  that  the  three 
perfonsin  the  trinity  wereGod,the/rz>zc?/?/(;(  ap^o-]  ) 
and  the  Holy  fpirit;  and  he  compared  their  union 
to  that  of  hulband  and  wife,  which  Fleury  fays 
was  making  it  nothing  more  than  of  a  moral  na- 
ture, and  that  in  other  things  he  wrote  like  a  Nef- 
torian.  But  the  fentiment  expreffed  above  is  more 
nearly  that  of  the  proper  Unitarians. 

Charlemagne  having  extended  his  conquefls 
into  Spain,  Urgela  was  in  his  dominions  ;  and 
being  informed  of  this  new  opinion,  and,  like  all 
llatefmen,  alarmed  at  any  innovation,  he  called  a 
council  at  Narbonne  for  feveral  ecclefiallical  mat- 
ters, as  he  faid,  but  "  principally  on  account  of 
*'  the  pernicious  opinion  of  Felix  of  Urgela." 
What  was  at  that  time  done  in  this  bufinefs  does 
not  appear,  but  in  another  council  held  at  Friuli 
the  fame  year  a.  d.  791,  the  opinion  of  FeUx  and 

Elipand  was  condemned. 

Thi» 


$EC.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  16f 

This  fentence,  however,  does  not  appear  to 
have  had  any  more  efFe6t  than  the  letter  of  the 
pope  ;  and  the  uneaiinefs  of  Charlemagne  on  the 
fubjt'61  continuing,  Felix  was  brought  before  him 
at  Ratifbon  in  a.  d.  792.  Being  heard  and  an- 
fwered  in  the  prefence  of  the  king,  it  is  faid  that  he 
renounced  his  opinions  ;  and  being  fent  to  Rome, 
he  confeffed  and  abjured  his  herefy,  and  then  was 
permitted  to  return  to  Urgela.  There,  however, 
he  maintained  his  former  opinion  ;  on  which  A- 
cuin  addreffed  to  him  a  letter  of  remonftrance,  and 
Felix  replied.  In  this  piece  he  faid  that,  fince 
Chrift,  as  a  man,  was  the  fon  of  David,  and  the 
fon  of  God,  and  it  was  impoflible  that  the  fame 
perfon  fhould  have  two  fathers  by  nature,  one  of 
them  mud  be  by  nature,  and  the  other  by  adoption. 
Jefus  Chrift  as  man,  he  faid,  j^was  God  only  no- 
minally, fince  Peter  faid  that  "  he  wrought  mira- 
"  cles  becaufe  God  was  with  him,  and  Paul  faid 
*'  that  God  was  in  Chrift  reconciling  the  world 
"  unto  himfelf.  They  do  not  fay  that  Jefus  Chrifl 
**  was  God."  Thefe,  it  is  eafy  to  perceive,  are 
the  fentiments  of  one  who  was  not  far  from  pure 
unitarianifm.  j 

Both  Paulinus  patriarch  of  Aquilela,  and  Al- 
Guin,  by  order  ot  Charlemagne,  wrote  a  large  an- 
fwer  to  this  piece  [of  Felix,    and  they  charge  hira 

L  5  with 


iro  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV^ 

with  Neftorianifm,    in  making  two  fons   of  God, 
one  by  nature,  and  the  other  by  adoption. 

Elipand  appears  to  have  been  no  lefs  a6ilv« 
than  Felix  in  the  defence  of  their  common  do£lrine* 
He  wrote  a  letter  addrelTed  to  the  bifhops  of  Spain^ 
and  another  to  Charlemagne,  in  fupport  of  hij 
opinion ;  and  the  letter  was  recited  and  feemingly 
with  approbation,  in  a  council  which  he  affembled 
from  the  different  provinces  of  Spain.  This  letter 
being  read  in  the  prefence  of  Charlemagne,  he 
arofe  and  fpoke  a  long  time  on  the  fubjeft ;  fay- 
ing that  this  error  had  excited  great  horror  to  the 
very  extremity  of  his  dominions,  and  that  it  was 
abfolutely  neceffary  to  put  an  end  to  it.  The 
bifhops  who  were  prefent  afked  fome  days  to  give 
their  opinion,  and  the  king  fixed  a  day  on  which 
they  were  to  give  it  in  writing.  He  alfo  fent  an 
sembafly  to  confult  the  pope  on  the  fubjeft,  and 
likewife  fent  for  learned  men  from  Great  Britain, 
in  order  to  have  the  concurrence  of  all  the  weftem 
churches. 

The  pope  on  the  return  of  the  embaffy,  fent  to 
Charlemagne  a  copy  of  the  letter  which  he  had 
addrelTed  to  the  bifhops  of  Gallicia  in  Spain,  in 
which  he  replied  to  the  letter  of  Elipand,  and  ex- 
horted them  to  return  to  the  faith  of  the  church, 
threatening  them  with  excommunication  if  they  did 
not.  Paulinus  alfo  gave  his  opinion  in  a  letter- 
written 


Sec.  IV.   THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         ir^ 


•  t    J 


written  not  only  in  his  own  name,  but  alfointhat  of 
the  archbifhiOp  of  Milan,  and  thofe  of  all  the  pro- 
vinces of  Italy  fubje6l  to  Charlemagne, 

This  letter  of  Paulinus  was  read  in  the  general 
council  of  all  the  countries  fubjeft  to  Charlemagne, 
held  at  Frankfort  a.  d.  794,  when  two  legates  of 
the  pope  attended.  The  letter  of  Elipand  being 
ihen  read  to  them,  they  anfwered  it  at  large,  in  a 
fynodical  epiftle,  in  the  name  of  all  the  bifhops  of 
Germany,  Gaul,  and  Aquitain,  addrefled  to  all 
the  bifhops  and  the  faithful  in  Spain.  It  con- 
cluded, however,  with  a  fimplc  exhortation,  with- 
out any  threatening  of  anathema, 

Charlemagne  alfo  wrote  in  his  own  name  to 
Elipand,  and  the  other  bifhops  of  Spain,  expref^ 
fing  his  great  concern  for  their  fubje6lion  to  the 
Infidels,  but  greater  for  their  errors  with  refpe6l 
to  the  faith ;  and  after  reciting  all  that  had  been 
done  on  the  fubjed  by  himfelf,  and  the  bifhops 
in  his  connexion,  he  urges  them  in  the  mofl  earneft 
manner  to  embrace  their  faith,  promifing  them  in 
this  cafe  his  afTiftance  to  deliver  them  from  the  in- 
fidels ;  but  faying  that,  otherwife,  he  ftiould  con- 
fider  them  as  abfolute  heretics,  and  hold  no  com- 
munication with  them.  The  effeft  of  this  letter  is 
not  known;  but  as  Spain  was  not  fubjeft  to  Charle- 
magne,   it  was  probably  very  little.     It  certainly 

did 


t72  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XVl 

did  not  encourage  him  to  do  any  thing  for  their  re- 
lief. 

Felix  of  Urgela  was  in  a  different  fituation, 
being  intirely  in  the  power  of  Charlemagne.  H< 
having  relapfed  into  his  herefy,  as  it  was  called 
and  replied  to  Alcuin,  the  kmg  caufed  a  councf; 
to  be  alTembled  at  Rome  in  a.  d.  799,  when  fifty.. 
leven  bifhops  attended.  In  this  council  Felix  w?^ 
declared  to  be  excommunicated,  if  he  did  not  re- 
siounce  his  errors. 

In  the  fame  year  Charlemagne  fent  a  deputa- 
tion of  feveral  bifhops,  and  other  perfons  of  emi- 
saence,  to  perfuade  Felix  to  renounce  his  ooinions  ^ 
2nd  inconfequence  ot  this  he  confented  t  j  accom- 
pany the  deputies  to  Char'emagne  at  Aix  la  Cha- 
pelle.  There,  after  giving  his  reafons  for  his  opini- 
onSjin  the  prefence'of  the  king,  and  of  many  bifhops 
and  nobles  afTembled  on  the  occafion,  and  heard^ 
their  repHes,  he  did  finally  renounce,  or  feigned  to 
renounce,  his  opinion.  But  on  account  of  his 
frequent  relapfes,  he  was  depofed  and  fent  to  Ly- 
ons, where  he  pafTed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
ThisVecantation  was  in  the  form  of  a  letter  addrefT- 
cd  to  the  people  of  his  diocefe,  exhorting  them  ta 
join  the  univerfal  church,  and  to  ceafe  from  th« 
fcandal  which  he  had  occalioned.'^  In 

*  Claude  of  Turin  was  the  difciple  of  Felix  of  Urgc| 
He  was  alive  in  a.  d.  839,  but  his  difciples  formed  no 
feparate  churches.    Rdbmson^  p.  448. 


Sec.V.    the  christian  church.  iriJi 

In  A.  D.  800,  Charlemagne  fenta  degutatioi* 
of  Archbifhops,  and  other  perfons  of  eminence,  to 
£Hpand,  and  they  carried  wihthem  a  treatife  of 
Alcuin  addrefTed  to  him,  in  which  he  exhorted  hhn 
very  earneftly  to  follow  the  example  of  Felix. 
But  Elipand,  who  was  then  in  his  jainety  fecond 
year,  was  not  to  be  gained.  Old  as  he  was,  he  re- 
plied to  Alcuin,  reproaching  him  with  the  num- 
ber and  value  of  his  church  preferments  ;  faying 
that  he  had  not  lefs  than  twenty  thoufand  ferfs  at 
his  difpofal,  lands  being  then  given  with  the  ferfs 
or  villeins  who  cultivated  them.  Thus  ended  this 
controverfy  which  does  not  appear  to  have  had 
any  eflFefl  after  the  age  in  which  it  arofe. 


SECTION  V. 


0/  the  Py  ogrefs  of  Chrijlianity,  and   the  State  of 
Heathens,  Jews,  and  Se^arics,  in  this  Period,* 


A 


BOUT  the  year  a.  d.  637*, 
chriftianity  was  introduced  into  China  by  the  Nef- 
torians,  who  were  indefatigable  in  their  labours  for 
this  purpofe, when  jefuabas  of  Gadala  was  at  their 
head.  MqJJieim,  vol.  2,  p.  I.  But  it  does  no6 
appear  that  any  lafting  efFefl  was  produced. 

In 


tU  THE  iilSTORY  OF  Per.  XY. 

In  the  Weft  great  progrefs  was  made  in  thft 
converfiion  of  the  Germans  by  St.  Winitred,  to 
whom  the  pope  gave  the  name  of  Boniface,  a  man 
devoted  to  the  fee  of  Rome,  the  intercfts  of  which 
he  feems  to  have  had  at  heart  full  as  much  as  thofc 
of  chriftianity. 

The  converfio;.iof  the  heathens  in  the  more  re- 
mote parts  of  Ea'fope  was  always  attended  to  by 
the  chriftian  pow  ers,  and  efpecially  by  the  popes, 
whofe  power  and  revenue  were  much  increai'ed  by 
its  fucccfs.  Bc-rin  fent  by  pope  Honorius  to  con- 
vert the  Pagans  in  England,  made  a  convert  of 
Conifgifle  king  of  Weffex,  in  A.  d.  638.  St.  Wil- 
frid converted  many  of  the  people  of  Frifeland  in 
in  his  way  to  Rome  in  a.  d.  679.  But  the  moft 
fuccefsful  apofile  in  this  age  was  Charlemagne^ 
who  propagated  Chriftianity  as  Mahomet  did  his 
religion,  by  the  fword.  The  great  theatre  of  hi* 
exploits  was  i  n  Saxony,  then  occupied  by  the  pa- 
gans. Thefe  he  conquered  no  lefs  than  four  times, 
and  every  time  he  compelled  them  to  be  baptifed; 
but  every  t  ime  that  they  revoltCjd,  they  never  fail- 
ed to  apostatize  from  their  profsffion  of  chriftianity. 
It  was  judged,  however,  that  tho'  the  firft  who  were 
converted  in  this  way  would  be  very  imperfefi;  chrifti- 
ans,  their  pofterity,  inftru6led  by  chriftian  priefts 
and  monks,  would  be  better,  which  certainly  was 
the  cafe. 

H0!v    . 


Sec.  V.   THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  tTSt 

How  thefe  new  converts  were  inftrufled  before 
they  were  admitted  to   baptifm,    will   appear  from 
the  behaviour  of  Radbod  king  of  Friffcland,who  was 
converted,  that  is  perfuaded  to  be    baptized,  by 
Wolfram  from  England  in  a.  d.  719.     Whenhe^ 
had  got  one  foot  into  the  baptifmal  fount,  he  ftop^ 
ped  to  afk  where  his  ancellors,  who  had  died  uni* 
baptized,  then  were  ;   and  Wolfram  replying   that 
they  were  certainly  in  hell,  he  faid  he  chofe  to  gd 
where  they  were,  rather  than  with  a  fmall  number 
of  poor  people  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  re- 
fufed   to  proceed   any  farther.     He  added,    I   do 
*'  not  believe  thefe  novelties,  and  had  rather  follow 
*'  the  antient  cuftoms  of  my  nation," 

Notwithftanding  the  wonderfully  rapid  pro- 
grefs  of  chri[lianity,efpecially  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Roman  empire,  there  were  many  remains  of 
paganilm,  efpecially  in  villages,  and  the  more  dif- 
tant  provinces,  of  which  we  find  traces  within  this 
period.  Many  heathen  fuperftitious  cuftoms  were 
noted  and  cenfured  by  St.  Eloi,  who  laboured 
much  in  the  converfion  of  the  people  of  Flanders? 
about  the  year  a.  d.  640.  The  remains  of  paga..' 
nifm  were  forbidden  in  the  council  of  Toledo  in 
A.  D.  694,  and  in  council  of  Trullo  at  Conftanti- 
riople  in  a.  d.  692,  efpecially  the  invocation  of 
Bacchus  in  the  time  of  vintage. 

We  fee  as  little  of  the  true  fpiritof  chriftianity 


in 


ire  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV* 

in  the  condu6l  of  chriftian  princes  and  councils 
towards  the  Jews  as  towards  the  Heathens.  At  k 
council  of  Toledo  in  a.  d.  633,  it  was  ordered 
that  the  Jews  fhould  not  be  compelled  to  become 
chriftians,  but  that  fuch  of  them  as  had  been  made 
chriftians  by  compulfion  in  the  reign  of  Sifebat 
fliould  continue  in  the  chriftian  faith,  and  that  the 
children  of  all  Jews  fhould  be  educated  in  chrifti- 
an monafteries,  in  order  to  their  being*inftru61:ed  in 
the  chriftian  religion.  In  another  council  at  To- 
ledo, in  A.  D.  694,  the  Jews  of  Spain,  on  pretence 
of  their  having  confpired  againft  the  ftate,  and  a- 
gainft  the  chriftians,  were  condemned  to  have  their 
goods  confifcated,  and  be  reduced  to  perpetual  fer- 
vitude,  their  mafters  being  charged  not  to  permit 
the  exercife  of  their  religion,  to  fend  their  children 
at  the  age  of  feven  years  to  be  educated  by  chrifti- 
ans, and  that  they  fhould  be  married  to  chriftians. 
The  emperor  Leo  Ifauricus,  at  the  beginning 
of  his  reign,  compelled  the  Jews  in  his  dominions 
to  be  baptized,  but  they  wafhed  themfelves  imme-> 
diately  after,  as  if  to  eSPace  their  baptifm,  and,  con- 
trary tothecuftom  of  chriftians  in  thofe  times,  they 
ate  before  they  received  the  eucharift.  As  many 
Jews  pretended  to  be  converted,  and  obferved  their 
own  rites  in  private,  it  was  ordered  at  the  fecond 
council  of  Nice,  that  they  fhould  not  be  received 
to  communion,  and  that   their  children  fhould  not 

be 


8sc.V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         ''iff 

t)e  baptized.   They  were  alfo  prohibited  from  put* 
thafins  Chriftian  flaves. 

The  emperor  Heraclius  obliged  the  Jews  to 
embrace  Chriftianity  or  leave  his  dominions,  and 
lie  perfuaded  Dagobert  the  king  of  France  to  do 
the  fame.  Sueur  a.  d.  629.  But  the  Jews  had 
been  as  hoftile  to  the  Chriftians,  and  whenever 
they  had  it  in  their  power  Ihewed  an  example  of 
great  cruelty.  When  Chofroes  II  of  Perfia  de- 
livered his  Chriftian  prifoners  to  the  JewS,  they 
put  them  to  death,  it  is  faid,  to  the  number  of  foi^i 
ty-eight  thoufand,  Bafnage  Vol.  8.  p.  2^^:, 

In  A.  D.  722  there  appeared  among  the  Jews 
in  Syria  a  pretended  Meffiah,  and  for  fome  timd 
he  had  many  followers.  Sueur, 

The  antient  herefies,  as  they  were  deemed. 
Were  not  wholly  extinft  in  this  period.  In  thci^ 
reign  of  Leo  Ifauricus  there  were  Montanifis,  who 
being  ordered  to  join  the  Catholic  church,  rather 
chofe  to  burn  themfelves  in  their  churches.  Gri- 
moald  king  of  the  Lombards  abolifhed  Arianifm 
in  his  dominions,  after  which  all  Italy  profefTed 
the  Catholic  faith.  Giannone  VoL  i.p.  226.  On 
account  of  fome  remains  of  Arianifm  in  Spain, 
Eugenius  of  Toledo  wrote  a  treatile  on  the  lubje6l 
of  the  trinity,  in  a.  d.  658.  The  herefies  of  No- 
vatus,  and  alfo  that  of  Jovinian,  who  had  diftinguifh- 
ed  himfelf  in  the  time  of  Jerom  by  oppofing  the 

Vol.  III.  M  fyftem 


irs  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV.^ 

fyftem  of  monkery,  were  revived  about  the  yeaf 
A.  D.  700  in  the  diocefe  of  Clermont  in  P'jance, 
and  the  monks  of  Monlieu  wrote  to  refute  them. 
The  Pelagians  were  by  no  means  ext.nd.  The 
clergy  of  Rome  writing  to  the  Scots  in  Ireland  in 
•A..D.  640  reproved  them  for  retaining  the  dcftrine 
of  Pelagius,  maintaining  that  it  was  in  the  powtF 
of  man,  by  his  own  will,  and  the  grace  of  God, 
to  live  without  fin. 

On  the  conquefls  of  the  Saracens  the  heretics 
of  the  Eaft,  who  had  been  perfecuted,  and  kept 
under,  by  the  power  of  the  Greek  emperors,  held 
up  their  heads.  The  Nejlorians  prevailed  in  Sy- 
ria, and  the  Eiitychians  in  Egypt.  The  Maho- 
metans were  more  favourable  to  them  than  to  thofe 
who  held  with  the  emperors,  or  the  popes  of  Rome, 
who  were  their  enemies;  fo  that  from  this  time  we 
have  no  certain  account  of  the  fucceffion  of  the 
Catholic  bifliops  in  the  great  fees  of  Jerufalem, 
Antioch,  or  Alexandria.  When  the  Sar?cens  con- 
quered Egypt,  they  protected  Benyon  the  patriarch 
of  the  Jacobites,  who  had  concealed  himfelften 
years  under  the  emperor  Heraclius,  and  he  entered 
Alexandria  in  triumph  ;  and  from  this  time  there 
were  two  patriarchs  of  Alexandria,  one  of  the  Ja- 
cobites, and  the  other  of  the  Melchites,  fo  called 
as  has  been  obferved,   from  their  holding  with  the 

Greek  emperors. 

The 


^EC.V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  m 

The  controverfy  about  the  proper  time  for  the 
'telebration  of  Eafter  was  kept  up  with  great  ob- 
ftinacy  on  both  lides  in  England;  the  antienC 
Chriftians  in  Wales,  Ireland,  and  Scotland,  main- 
taining the  Jewifli  cuftom,  of  obferving  it  on  the 
fourteenth  day  of  the  month,  without  any  regard 
to  its  being  funday,  and  the  new  converts  frorii 
Rome  the  cuftom  that  is  now  univerfally  adopted 
in  Europe,  and  thence  called  Catholic.  Finan 
biftiop  of  Landisferne  in  Ireland  held  with  the 
former,  and  one  Romanus  with  the  latter,  as  aTo 
Wilfrid,  fon  of  Ofwy  king  of  Northumberland, 
who  travelled  to  Rome,  and  on  his  return  got  the 
monaflery  of  Rippon,  from  which  the  king  ejefted 
the  monks,  v/ho  preferred  banifhment  to  the  ob- 
fervance  ofthe  new  cuflom. 

In  A.  D.  664  king  Of.vy  appointed  a  folemn 
conference  to  be  heM  on  the  fubjea  at  the  mo- 
naftery  of  Strenfhall,  where  Colmati  bifhop  ol 
Landisferne  was  the  chief  fpeaker  on  the  part  of 
the  Irllh,  and  Wilfrid  on  that  of  the  Romanifts. 
In  the  iflue  both  parties,  as  ufual  on  fuch  occa- 
fions,  retired  with  their  former  opinions,  arid  th6 
king  was  confirmed  in  his  own. 

In  A.  D.  669  Theodore  was  fent  by  the  po|^e 
to  be  bifhop  of  Canterbury,  with  the  general  fu- 
perintence  of  all  the  churches  in  England,  accom-s. 
panied  by  the  abbot  Adrian.      He  eftabiifhed  the 

M  a  •  Roman 


180  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

Roman  cuftom  with  refpeft  to  the  obfervance  of 
Eafter.  He  alfo  founded  a  celebrated  fchool  of 
divinity,  fcience,  and  pfalmody,  which  from  this 
time  was  introduced  into  all  the  churches  in  Eng^ 
land.  In  a.  d.  673  he  held  a  council  at  Hert- 
ford, attended  by  four  biftiops  befides  himfelf, 
who  all  agreed  to  obferve  the  Roman  cuftoms. 

From  this  time  the  oppolition  to  the  Roman 
cuftoms  gradually  ceafed.  About  the  year  a.  d. 
710,  the  nation  of  the  Pi6ls  renounced  the  fchifm, 
and  conformed  to  the  Roman  cuftom  of  keeping 
Eafter,  their  king  Naitan  having  adopted  that 
meafure.  The  monks  of  Ai  conformed  to  it.  and 
to  ecclefiaftical  tonfure  in  a.  d.  716.  Of  fo  much 
importance  was  this  queftion  deemed,  that  no 
Britifti  or  Irifti  prieft  could  be  reconciled  to  the 
Catholic  church  without  a  fiefh  impofition  of 
hands,  and  no  private  perfon  could  receive  the 
chrifm  (i.  e.  confirmation)  or  the  eucharift,  till 
he  conformed  to  it. 

Such  was  the  ftate  of  herefies  and  opinions  of 
an  older  date  in  this  period.  Within  it  arofe  fome 
that  were  new,  befides  thofe  of  Elipand  and  Felix, 
an  account  of  which  has  been  given  before.  About 
the  middle  of  the  eighth  century  fome  difturbance 
was  occafioned  by  Adalbert  in  Gaul,  and  Clement 
a  native  of  Ireland  [MoJJieim  Vol.  2.  p.  99.)  who 
formed  feparate  focieties  in  Germany  and  France, 
«  inde« 


Sec.V.   the  christian  church.  I8i 

independent  of  thofe  which  were  in  communion 
with  the  church  of  Rome.  Adalbert  had  adherents 
among  fome  bifhops  who  in  thofe  times  were  or- 
dained without  a  view  to  any  particular  (ees,  which 
was  contrary  to  the  canons.  He  is  not  charo-ed 
with  any  irregularity  of  morals,  but  only  with  hy- 
pocritical aufterity.  Clement  rejefted  the  autho- 
rity of  the  canons,  councils,  and  Fathers,  allowed 
the  manisiJe  of  a  man  wiih  his  brother's  widow  and 
faid  that  Jefus  Chrift  when  he  went  into  hell  fared 
all  that  were  in  a  ftate  of  damnation,  even  infidels- 
and  idolaters.  He  is  alfo  faid  to  have  held  fome 
errors  relating  to  predeftiii.uion.  On  the  whole, 
it  is  probable  that,  if  the  fentiments  and  condu6b 
of  thefe  two  men  were  fully  known,  they  would  be 
ranked  with  the  mofl  early  reformers. 

Winfrid,  or  Boniface,  the  Romifh  apoflle  of 
the  North,  wrote  about  thefe  men  to  pope  Zachary, 
and  alfo  procured  them  to  be  apprehended.  At:d 
in  a  council  held  at  Rome  in  a.  d.  748  [Mojlieim 
Vol.  2.  p.  100)  fome  very  abfurd  writings,  faid 
to  be  theirs,  were  produced,  and  ordered  to  be 
burned,  and  their  authors  to  be  depofed  and  ana- 
thematized, as  alfo  their  followers  if  they  perlifled 
in  their  errors.  After  this  the  pope  defired  that 
the  caufe  of  Adalbert,  Clement  and  Godalface 
(whofc  name  does  not  occur  before)  might  be  heard 
At  a  council  in  France;    but  what  the  following 

M  3  i.  pi^o- 


182  .    THE  HISTORY  OF        Pe^l.  %Y\ 

proceedings  were,  or  what  became  of  the  men,  or 
their  partifans  does  not  appear. 

The  falfe  bifliops,  as  they  were  called,  who. 
were  complained  of  at  this  time,  were  faid  to  be 
more  numerous  than  the  true  ones.  They  are 
charged  with  being  gui  ty  of  all  kinds  of  crimes, 
and  fo  were  the  primitive  Chriftians  and  the  later 
reformers.  They  affembled  people  in  the  fields, 
and  the  houfes  of  the  peafants.  Thev  did  not 
biptize  with  the  fign  of  the  crofs,  or  the  other  forms 
of  Catholic  baptilm.  ,  Thefe  circumflances  j'uffi- 
cieatly  Ihew  why  they  were  obnoxious  to  the 
popes  and  the  Catholics.  By  the  orders  of  the  popes 
they  were  everywhere  deprived  of  their  pneltbood 
in  provincial  councils,  and  confined  in  monafterics, 
i.  e.  imprifoned. 

Among  the  novelties  in  this  period  it  may  de- 
serve to  be  mentioned,  that  a  Scotch  prieft  named 
Samfon,  taught  that  men  might  be  faved  without 
baptifm,  by  the  mere  impofition  of  the  hands  of  a 
bifhop. 

The  fubje61:  which  afterwards  became  the  dif* 
tinguifbing  difference  between  the  Greek  and  the 
Latin  churches  fome  times  occurs  within  this  pe- 
riod, but  as  yet  no  great  ftrefs  was  laid  upon  it. 
I  mean  the  procefTion  of  the  Holy  fpirit,  faid  in 
the  council  of  Conftantinople  to  be  from  the 
father.      But  he  being  faid  in .  the  Gofpeis  to  be 

.     ;:  fcnt 


fSEC.V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  lej 

fent  by  the  Son,  when  this  proctjjion  came  to  be 
underftood  as  relating  to  the  manner  of  his  exijienci, 
and  the  Son  was  fuppofed  to  be  God  equal  to  the 
.  Father,  and  the  fame  was  affirmed  of  the  Holy- 
Spirit,  it  was  thought  by  fome  that  he  ought  to 
be  confidered  as  proceeding  alike  from  both.  This, 
however,  was  not  mentioned  in  any  public  aft  till 
the  year  a.  d.  447,  where  it  occurs  in  the  afts  of 
a  fynod  held  in  Spain.  The  fame  phrafe  of  the 
Holv  Spirit  "  proceeding  from  the  Father  and 
**  the  Son"  occurs  in  the  afts  of  a  council  held  at 
Toledo  in  A.  D.  633. 

It  does  appear  that  any  complaint  was  ma^e 
of  this  addition  to  the  creed,  (Tor  in  that  it  was 
infertedj  till  the  year  a.  d.  767,  when  the  empe- 
ror Conftantine  fent  ambaflfadors  to  Pepin,  who 
Were  beard  at  Gentilii  near  Paris.  There  the 
q-ieflion  was  agitated  about  the  Holy  Spirit  pro- 
ceeding from  the  Father,  or  from  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  and  the  Greeks  complained  of  it  as  an  in- 
novation. But  it  does  not  appear  that  any  thing 
was  decided  at  this  time  on  the  fubjeft.  Indeed, 
neither  the  Greek  nor  the  Latin  church  had  any 
very  fe;.tled  opinion  about  it.  For  at  the  council 
ia  Trullo  in  a.  d.  791,  it  was  maintained  that 
this  proceffion  was  from  the  Son,  as  well  as  from 
the  Father.  And  pope  Adrian,  writing  to  Charle- 
SjMgne,  approved  of  the  fentiment  of  Tarafus  pa- 

M  ^  triarcli 


% 


ja4>  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per,  XV« 

triarch  pf  Conflantinople,  who  faid  that  the  Holy- 
Spirit  proceeded  from  the  Father  thro'  the  Sun^ 
which,  as  Fleury  fays,  fhews  that  at  that  time  tha 
church  of  Rome  did  not  reproach  the  Greeks  o© 
that  fubjed. 


SECTION  VI. 


Of  the  Power  of  the  Popes,  and  of  the  Bijhops,  in 

this  Period, 


I 


.T  was  in  this  period  of  our  hiftory  that 
the  popes  obtained  the  rank  of  temporal  princes 
(tho'  not  yet  abfolutcly  independent  of  afuperior) 
•which  they  have  held  ever  fince ;  and  the  great 
wealth  and  temporal  power  acquired  by  the  fee  of 
Rome  was  in  all  times  that  which  emboldened 
them  in  their  claims  of  fpiritual  ufurpation,  and' 
led  the  Chriftian  world  to  give  way  to  them.  In 
the  former  periods  of  our  hiftory  the  patrimony  o! 
St.  Peter  (as  the  lands  and  revenues  of  the  fee  of 
I^ome  were  called)  had  been  immenfe,  not  having 
been  confined  to  the  territory  of  Rome,  or  Italy, 
but  confifted  of  donations  made  from  time  to  time 
in  Sicily,  and  all  p^rts  of  the  Chriftian  world. 
But  before  this  time  they  never  received  thofe  re- 
venues of  any  place  or  territory  which  had  before 

been 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  16S 

been  at  the  difpofal  of  the  prince,  or  emperor. 
But  fuch  an  acquifition  was  now  made  by 
the  popes  in  confequence  of  their  favouring  the 
conquefts  of  the  kings  of  France  in  Italy,  and 
fuch  was  the  influence  of  the  popes  at  this 
time  in  all  affairs  tempoml  and  fpiritual,  that? 
it  was  of  importance  to  the  kings  of  France  to 
purchafe  their  alliance  at  almoft  any  price.  Be- 
lides,  they  might  ima-ine  that,  whatever  they  gave, 
they  might  hereafter,  if  they  thought  proper,  re- 
fume.  The  fteps  by  which  this  great  revolution 
in  the  flate  of  the  Chriftian  world  took  place  were 
as  follows. 

Gregory  the  third  having  taken  the  part  of 
Trafimond  duke  of  Spoleto  againft  Luitprand 
king  of  the  Lombards,  and  in  confequence  of  it 
Rome  being  befieged  by  the  latter,  applied  for  help 
to  Charles  Martel,  mayor  of  the  palace  in  France, 
but  in  reality  king  of  France  in  a.  d.  741,  promiling 
that  if  he  was  relieved  by  him  he  would  withdraw 
from  the  obedience  of  the  Greek  emperor,  who 
had  given  him  no  afliftance,  and  give  him  (Charles) 
the  confullhip  of  Rome. 

After  this  it  was  by  the  advice  of  pope  Zachary 
that  Pepin,  who  had  fucceeded  Charles  Martel, 
affumed  the  title  of  king  of  France,  the  pope,  who 
was  confulted  on  the  occafion,  faying  that  the  title 
ibouid  go  With  the  power.     In  confequence  of  this 

M  5  Chil- 


186  THE  HISTORY  OF  P^r.  XV* 

ChiMepc  III,     a  weak  and  contemptible  prince, 
was  confined  in  a  monaflery. 

A^aln  Rome  being  threatened  by  Aftolphus 
king  of  the  Lombards,  pope  Stephen  II,  having 
in  vain  invoked  the  aid  of  the  emperor,  and  tried 
the  efFe6t  of  a  folemn  proceffion,  in  which  he  walk.. 
cd  barefoot,  carrying  an  imags  of  chrift  which  was 
faid  to  have  been  made  without  hands,  wrote  to 
P ,  pin,  and  fent  the  letter  privately  by  a  pilgrim  j 
ani  in  order  to  procure  an  interview,  he  defired 
him  to  fend  embaxTadors  to  engage  him  to  pay 
Jnim  a  vifit  in  France.  He  then  went  to  Pavia,  and 
there  applied  to  the  king  of  the  Lombards,  to  pro- 
cure the  reflitution  of  Ravenna,  and  other  places 
of  the  exarchate,  which  had  been  taken  from  the 
Greek  emperors,  who  were  ftill  fovereigns  of  Rome, 
Kot  fucceeding  in  this,  he  was  permitted  to  goto 
France,  the  king  of  the  Lombards,  having  no  fuf- 
picion  of  the  bulinefs  on  which  he  went ;  and  there 
he  was  received  with  the  greaL ell  honor  by  Pepia 
and  his  court,  in  a.  d.   754. 

The  pope  having  obtained  the  promife  of  the 
afii fiance  he  wanted  from  Pepin,  they  returned  to- 
gether, and  Aftolphus  being  befieged  in  Pavia, 
promifed  to  reftore  his  conquefts  from  the  Romans. 
But  on  the  return  of  Pepin  to  France,  he  not  only 
j-efufed  to  do  this,  but  befieged  Rome  itfelf.  The 
pope,  reduced  to  extremity,  v.-rote  to  Pepin  in  the 

name 


gEC.  VI.   THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  XW 

name  of  he  ap  ftle  Peter,  conjuring  him  in  the 
inoli  eaincft  manner  to  come  to  his  afliflance,  pro^ 
inifin^  him  all  the  good  things  of  this  life  and  an- 
pther  in  cafe  of  his  compliance,  and  threatening 
him  with  the  torments  of  hell  in  cafe  of  his  refufal. 
On  this  Pepin  cameagain,  and befieging  Aftolphus 
in  Pavia,  forced  him  to  fulfill  the  terms  of  the  treaty 
of  the  preceding  year  ;  and  having  thus  obtained 
Ravenna,  and  the  exarchate,  including  Pentapo- 
lis,  or  the  March  of  Ancona  (Giannone  Vol.  u 
p.  261.)  a  territory  containing  twenty-two  cities, 
he  gave  them  in  perpetuity  to  St.  Peter,  that  is, 
to  the  church  ol  Rome  and  the  popes.  And 
this  was  the  firft  foundation  of  their  temporal 
power.  But  notwithftanding  this  donation  of  Pe- 
pin, the  popes  continued  to  date  their  letters  by 
the  years  of  the  emperors  of  Conftantinople,  and 
ftill  the  fenate  and  people  ol  Rome  called  the  pope 
their  tather,  not  their  lord. 

On  the  death  of  Carloman,  one  of  the  fons  of 
Pepin,  and  brother  ol  Charles,  who  was  afterwards, 
for  his  great  exploits,  furnamed  Charles  the  Great, 
or  Charlemagne  (and  who  had  a  fhare  of  the  do- 
minions of  their  father)  his  widow  went  with  her 
two  fons  to  Defiderius  king  of  the  Lombards,  who 
requelled  the  pope  to  come  to  Pavia,  and  confe- 
prate  them  kings  of  France,  in  oppoiition  to  Charle- 
iliJigne,  whom  the  peers  of  France  had  chofen  for 

their 


i49  THE  HISTORY  Ol-  Per.  XV* 

their  fole  king,    but  he  refufed.       On  this  Defi- 
derius  approached  Rome  with  an  army,  but  on  the 
remonftrance  of  the  pope  he  did  not  chufe  to  enter 
the  place  by  force.    Charlemagne,  however,  com* 
ing  to  his  afliftance,  befieged  the  king  of  the  Lom- 
b^irds  in    Pavia,    and  during    the  fiege  went   to 
Rome,  where  he  confirmed  by  his  fignature  (for 
it  is  faid  that  at  this  time  he  could  not  write)  the 
grant  of  his  father  Pepin,  with  the  addition  of  Cor- 
lica,   and  beginning  on  the  coaflof  Genoa,  by  the 
port  of  Spezia,  extended  his  grant  to  Bargi,  Reggio, 
and  Mantua,  comprehending  the  whole  of  the  ex- 
archate, the  provinces  of  Venetia  and  Iftria,    with 
die  dutchies  of  Spoleto  and  Beneventum.     Fleury 
Vol.  9.  p.  421.       On  the  return  of  Charlemagne 
to  Pavia,   Defiderius  furrendered  at  difcretion,  and 
retired  to  the  monaftery  of  Corbie  in  France.     On 
Charlemagne's  third  vifit  to  Rome,  in  a.  d.  787, 
he  added  to  his  donation  the  cities  he  had   taken 
from  the  duke  of  Beneventum,  viz.  Sora.   Arces, 
Aquino,    Arpi,  Theano,   and  Capua.       But  the 
extent  of  the  grants  of  both  Pepin  and  Charlemagne 
are  much  difputed  by  the  adherents  of  the  popes 
and  of  the  emperors.  Mo/Jieim,  Vol.  2.  p.  69. 

In  order  to  induce  Charlemagne  to  make  thii 
grant  of  territory  it  feems  probable  that  the  pope 
alleged  the  example  of  Conftantine  the  great,  who, 
it  was  pretended,  had  given  the  city  and  territory 

of 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  m 

of  Rome  to  pope  Silvefler,  tho'  fome  fay  that  this 
forgery  was  cf  a  later  date.  MoJJieim,  Vol.  2. p.  72, 
Charlemagne,  however,  retained  the  fovereignty 
of  Rome,  and  probably  of  all  the  principalities 
that  he  had  given  him:  for  an  oath  of  fea'ty  was 
iaken  to  him  on  the  death  of  pope  Adrian  and  the 
leleftion  of  Leo  III. 

On  Charlemagne's  fourth  vifit  to  Rome,  in  A* 
x>.  800,  the  pope  put  a  crown  of  great  value  on  his 
head,  and  anointed  him,  giving  him  the  titles  of 
emperor,  and  Aiigujlus,  and  after  this  the  pope 
proftrated  himfelf  before  him,  and  acknowledged 
him  his  fovereign.  The  people  of  Rome  eafily 
confented  to  this  tranfer  of  their  allegiance  from 
the  emperors  at  Conflantinople,  as  they  had  given 
them  no  affiftance,  and  the  empire  was  then  in  the 
hands  of  a  woman,  which,  being  a  novelty,  made 
the  Romans  alhamed  of  their  fubje6lion.  Thus  the 
title  of  emperor  of  the  Wejl,  which  had  become  ex- 
tinft  in  a.  d.  476,  was  reftored  after  a  lapfe  of 
three  hundred  and  four  years ;  and  from  this  time 
the  popes  dated  their  letters  by  the  reign  of  Charle- 
magne. 

One  principal  motive  which  induced  Charle- 
magne to  give  fo  much  power  as  he  did  to  the 
clergy,  and  efpecially  to  the  bifoops  of  Rome, 
was  that  he  expefted  more  fubmiffion  frdm  thera 
than  from  laymen ;    and  that  by  their  ecclefiaflical 

power 


n(^  THE  HISTORY  OF  Peii.  XV* 

^ower  they  would  enable  him  to  keep  the  otheri 
in  fubjeftion.  Qther  princes  a6led  upon  the  famd 
principle,  and  were  not  altogether  influenced  by 
fuperftition.  The  exceflive  power  of  the  clergy- 
over  the  laity  was  confined  to  the  Weft,  where  ex* 
communication  by  the  Druids  had  always  exclu* 
ded  thofe  who  were  fubjeft  to  it  from  all  the  rights 
of  fociety,  and  even  humanity,  as  we  learn  from 
Caefar.  Of  this  circumftance  the  chriftian  clergy 
had  availed  themfelves  to  increafe  their  own 
power. 

In  return  for  the  temporal  power  which  Char- 
lemagne gave  to  the  popes  and  the  clergy,  he  a  flu* 
med,  and  without  oppofition  from  them,  much 
power  of  a  fpiritual  nature.  He  not  only  retained 
the  power  of  approving  of  the  eleftions  of  the 
popes,  which  had  been  held  by  the  emperors  of 
the  Eaft,  fo  that  they  could  not  be  confecrated 
without  his  confent,  but  he  regulater]  the  churches 
by  his  Capitularia,  calling  f)  nods  by  his  own  au- 
thority, in  which  both  prelates  and  temooral  princ* 
cs  were  prefent,  and  in  which  rules  were  lad 
down  for  the  difcipline  of  the  church,  as  well  as 
for  things  oi  a  temporal  nature.  Alfo,  when  any 
bifliops  were  prefented  to  him,  and  he  thought  pro* 
per  to  confirm  the  ekaion,  he  inverted  them  in 
their  office  by  the  delivery  of  the  Crcfier  andring^ 
and  alter  this   the  new  biftiop  was  confecrated  by 

thd 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         m 

the   neighbouring   blfhops,      Glannone,    Vol.    i, 
p.  322. 

In  the  hiftory  of  this  period,  the  popes  ad- 
vanced their  pretenfions  to  power  of  various  kinds* 
Of  this  the  following  are  inftances. 

When  St.  Winfred,  or  as  he  was  generally 
called  Boniface,  was  ordained  a  bifhop  by  thd 
pope,  and  fent  into  fome  parts  of  Germany,  he 
took  an  oath  by  which  he  bound  himfelf 
always  to  aft  in  concurrence  with  the  pope, 
to  hold  no  communion  with  thofe  who  did  not  ob- 
ferve  the  canons,  to  hinder  them  all  he  could,  or 
to  acquaint  the  pope  with  their  proceedings. 

Gregory  III  fending  St.  Willibald  who  was 
a  monk,  on  a  miffion,  he  faid  he  muft  have  the 
leave  of  his  abbot,  according  to  the  rule  of  Bene- 
di6l;  but  the  pope  replied  "  my  orders  are  fuffici- 
*'  ent,  the  abbot  has  no  right  to  refift  me,  if  I  were 
"  to  fend  himfelf."  On  this  Willibald  fubmitted, 
offering  to  go  wherever  he  fhould  fend  him. 

Taflilon  duke  of  Bavaria  not  readily  agreeing 
with  Charlemagne,  the  pope  declared  him  anathe- 
matized, if  he  did  not  abide  by  the  oath  he  had 
taken,  and  faid  that  in  this  cafe  the  king  would  not 
be  anfwerable  for  the  murders  committed,  and 
other  damages  done,  in  Bavaria.  This,  fays  Fleu- 
ry,  is  the  firft  time  that  the  pope  pronounced  upon 
the  juftnefs  of  any  war.    Vol.  9  p.  431, 


J192  THE  HISTORY  O^         Per.  XV. 

A  circumllance  which  contributed  very  much 
to  eftablifh  the  power  of  the  popes  in  thtfe  dark 
ages,  was  the  produftion  of  the  decretal  epijlles  of 
the  antient  popes,  of  which  the  firft  mention  is 
jnade  in  this  period.  In  a.  d.  785,  Ingelram, 
bifhop  of  Metz,  drew  up  a  colleftion  of  canons, 
and  in  them  he  inferted  fome  from  the  decretals, 
which  Fleury  fays  no  perfon  now  doubts  were 
forged  by  Ifidore  Mercator  of  Spain,  and  which 
he  fays  were  calculated  to  advance  the  power  of 
the  popes,  and  of  the  clergy  in  general*  Grofs 
as  this  impofition  was,  it  was  admitted  by  all  th6 
Latin  church  eight  hundred  years,  and  was  with 
difficulty  abandoned  by  the  Catholics  even  then. 

Tho*  thofe  decretals  are  ufually  afciibed  to  Hi* 
dore  of  Seville  in  the  fixth  century,  Mofheim 
doubts  their  being  fo  antient,  and  is  rather  of  opi^ 
riion  that  they  were  forged  in  a  later  period,  not 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  popes.  Several  of 
the  more  learned  bilhops,  Specially  in  France, 
were  fenfible  of  the  impofition,  and  refufed  to  re- 
ceive thefe  decretals  as  the  law  of  the  church  ;  but 
the  authority  of  the  popes,  efpecially  of  Nicolas  I^ 
reduced  them  to  filence.  The  furname  of  Mer^ 
tator  added  to  Ifidore  is,  he  fays,  a  miftake  for 
Peccator,  which  it  was  cuftomary  for  bifhops,  by 
way   of  humility,    to  fubjoin  to  their  fignatures, 

Mojheim,  Vol.  2.  p.  126.  127. 

In 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  1^ 

In  one  refpe£l  we  find  an  inflance  dt  modera- 
tion in  this  holy  fee,  that  was  not  fo  common  in 
later  ages.  Pope  Zachary,  writing  to  Boniface 
difciaims  his  having  received  any  thing  from  thofe 
bifhops  to  whom  he  had  given  the  p.il  ium.  «'  Let 
"  every  one,"  fays  he,  "  who  is  fo  bold  as  fo  fell 
**  the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  be  anathema/' 

Some  of  the  greater  bifhops  of  Italy,  as  thofe 
of  Ravenna  and  Milan,  when  they  were  not  un- 
der the  fame  civil  government  with  the  city  of 
Rome,  were  fometimes  induced  to  hold  themfelves 
independent  of  the  popes.  Thus  Maurus  arch- 
bifhop  of  Ravenna,  being  fupported  by  the  empe- 
ror Conflans,  would  not  receive  the  pallium  from 
the  pope,  on  which  account  the  Romans  confidered 
thofe  who  were  fubjeft  to  that  fee  as  heretics,  and 
called  them  Autocephali,  Sueur  a.  d.  649.  In  a 
D.  979  Theodore  the  then  bifhop  of  Ravenna 
was  reconciled  to  the  pope. 

The  popes  did  not  gain  fo  great  an  accefficn  of 
power  in  this  period  without  the  clergy  in  general, 
and  the  fuperior  clergy  in  particular,  gaining  fome- 
thing  in  proportion. 

At  a  council  held  at  Ratifbon  m  a.  d.  807  the 
Choroepifcopi  were  reduced  to  the  condition  of 
|)refbyters.  They  continued,  however,  notwith- 
ftanding  this  ordinance;    and  it   was  not  till  th^ 

Vol.  III.  N  middle 


194  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XVv 

middle  of  the  tenth  centwy  that  they  wei e  intirelj^' 
fuppreffed,  both  in  the  Eafl  and  the  Weft. 

It  was  the  great  wealth  that  gave  the  bifhops 
of  the  greater  fees  fo  much  power  as  to  bear  down 
the  village  biftiops,  tho'  none  of  them  obtained  the 
principalities  which  they  did  in  a  later  period. 
Some  inftances,  however,  of  the  great  wealth  of 
clergymen  occur  in  this.  The  cafe  of  Alcuin  has 
been  mentioned  already.  S.  Wulfrid  had  fomuch 
fecular  power  in  confequence  of  his  immenfe 
wealth,  the  number  of  his  monafteries,  the  magni- 
ficence of  his  buildings,  and  the  number  of  his 
vaffals  who  attended  him  in  complete  armour,  that 
the  king  took  umbrage  of  it,  and  perfuaded  the 
bilhop  of  Canterbury  to  depofe  him.  This  was  in 
■A.  D.  678. 

As  the  princes  and  the  nobles  aflifted  at  the 
councils  which  were  held  at  this  time,  we  the  lefs 
wonder  at  the  regulations  of  a  civil  nature  that 
were  fometimes  made  in  them.  In  a  council  at 
Toledo,  in  a.  d.  633,  feveral  decrees  were  made 
with  refpeft  to  the  fucceffion  to  the  kingdom,  and 
the  part  which  the  clergy  were  to  take  in  it,  which, 
fays  Fleury,  is  the  firft  time  that  bifhops  took  any 
part  in  civil  government.  At  the  fixth  council  of 
Toledo,  in  a.  d.  638,  it  was  agreed  with  the  con- 
!  feiit.of  the  king  Cinithila  and  the  nobility,  that  no 

perlbii  -fhould  aicfend   the  throne  who  would   not 

promife 


Bec.vl  the  christian  church. 

promife  to  preferve  the  Catholic  faith,  and  that  if 
he  violated  his  oath,  he  fhould  be  condemned  t6 
eternal  fire,  with  the  bifhops  and  others  who  Ihould 
partake  in  his  guilt.  This,  however,  does  not 
amount  to  the  depoiition  of  the  prince. 

Such  a  difpofition,  however,  was  Ihewn  by  the 
bifhops  in  thefe  councils  to  control  the  fovereigns/- 
that  thofe  of  them  who  fufpedted  that  they  were 
liot  favouied  by  them  took  umbrage  at  fuch  af-* 
femblies  of  the  clergy.  Sigebert  king  of  Auftria 
wrote  to  Difier  bifhop  of  Cahors,  to  forbid  his  at- 
tending any  council  within  his  dominions,  without 
his  previous  knowledge  of  it ;  faying  he  would 
never  refufe  their  affemblino;  whenever  he  thouoht 
the  good  of  the  church,  or  of  the  ftate,  required  it. 

Marriage  being  confidered  as  a  religious  en- 
gagement, as  well  as  a  civil  contradl,  the  clergy 
foon  began  to  take  cognifanCe  of  it ;  and  it  evi- 
dently favoured  their  purpofe  to  limit  the  degrees 
<3f  affinity  within  which  it  might  be  lawfully  con- 
tra6led.  Gregory  III,  writing  to  Boniface  the 
bifhop  of  Germany,  in  a.  d.  732,  fays  that  he 
Ihould  forbid  marriages  to  the  feventh  degree  of 
relationfhip,  and  if  poffible,  prevent  men  from 
marrying  more  than  twice. 

Not  only  were  priefts  forbidden  to  rtiarry^ 
and  the  wives  they  had  before  receiving  holy  or- 
dei's  to  have  no  commerce  with  them,     but  at  a 

N   2  council 


19«  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

council  held  in  Rome  in  a.  d.  720,  an  anathema 
was  pronounced  againft  any  peiTon  who  fhouM 
many  the  widow  of  one  who  had  been  ordained  a 
pricft.  At  the  fame  time  they  who  married  ihe 
wife  of  a  brother  or  coufin  were  anathematized. 

Godfathers  and  godmothers  being  confidered 
as  fpiritual  relations,  the  new  laws  of  marriage  were 
extended  even  to  them.  But  thefe  reflri6lions  did 
not  fatisfy  all  perfons.  Boniface,  writing  to  ihe 
archbilhop  of  Canterbury,  inquires  for  the  au- 
thority in  the  fcriptures,  or  the  canons  of  the 
church,  for  condemning  the  marriages  of  god- 
fathers with  the  mother  of  the  child,  when  fhe  was 
become  a  widow,  which  he  faid  the  Romanifts  fay 
deferves  capital  punifhment.  "  I  do  rot  compre- 
"  hend,"  he  adds,  "  how  fpritual  reationfhip 
"  (hould  render  marriage  criminal ;  fmce  by  bap- 
*'  tifm  we  are  all  brethren."  However  when  the 
pope  was  in  France  in  a.  d.  754,  it  was  agreed  that 
marriage  with  godmothers,  either  at  baptifra  or 
confirmation  (for  they  were  then  ufed  at  both 
thefe  rites)  fhould  be  unlawful. 

There  tvas  no  prohibition  of  parents  being 
fponfois  for  their  children  till  the  time  of  Charle- 
magne, at  the  council  of  Mentz.  Bingham  Vol.  1. 

P-  513- 

In  A.  D.  '702  Witiza,  king  of  Spain,  declared 

it  to  be  lauful  for  the  clergy  in  his  dominions  ta 

marry* 


Sic.VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  1ST 

marrv.  This  was  refented  by  the  pope,  who 
threatened  that  if  the  law  was  not  abrogated,  he 
would  rake  his  kingdom  from  him.  But  the  king, 
in  reply,  laid  he  would  pay  him  a  vifit  with  his  ar- 
my, and  chaftile  his  infolence,  by  plundering 
Rome,  as  his  anceflor  Alaric  had  done.  He  alfo 
affcmbled  a  council  at  Toledo  in  a.  d.  704,  in 
which  it  was  decreed  that  the  bifhop  of  Rome  had 
no  authority  in  the  Spanilli  church  or  ftate.  About 
twelve  years  after  this  Spain  was  conquered  by 
hiiQ  Moors.     Gcddds's  TraHs.  Vol.  2.  p.  28.  6^c. 


SECTION  VII. 

OJ  the  Mohh   in  this  Period. 


T 


HE  o-c^neral  Gtuation  of  the  monks 

o 

continued  to  be  nearly  the  fame  in  this  period  as 
in  the  preceding  ;  but  there  are  fevcral  particulars 
in  their  hiftory  not  undeferving  to  be  recorded. 
So  much  more  ftriQ  were  the  lives  of  the  monks 
than  that  of  the  clergy,  that  the  term  religious  be- 
came appropriated  to  them,  ^s  diftinguifhed  froni 
the  re<iular  clerav,  who  from  living  more  in  the 
world,  obtained  the  epithet  of  fecular.  It  ap- 
pears, however,  from  the  a6ls  of  the  tenth  coun- 
cil of  Toledo,    held  a.  d.  656,  that  at  that  time 

N  3.  the- 


m.  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV, 

the  term   religious,    comprehended  the  clergy,  ?is 
well  as  the  moiiks. 

In  the  time  of  Charlemagne  it  began  to  be  the 
cuflom  to  ^ive  lands  in  fee  to  churches  and  mo- 
nalteries.  That  of  mount  CalSn  was  the  firil  that 
got  pollcllion  ot  cafties  and  baronies,  whence  its 
fibbot  boaits  of  being  the  firfl  baron  in  the  kmg- 
dom  of  Naples.   Giannone  Vol.  i.  p.  324. 

In  leveral  refpetts  the  fuperftition  of  the  times 
grew  more  favourable  to  the  monkilh  iyflcm  than 
before.  Whereas  Bafil  did  not  permit  any  per- 
fons  to  take  the  vows  under  the  age  of  fevenieen, 
the  council  of  Trullo  in  a.  d.  692,  permitted  it 
^t  the  age  of  ten,  on  the  pretenfe  that  the  church 
fhould  advance  dayly  towards  perfedion.  By  the 
third  council  of  SaragolFa,  in  the  fame  year,  the 
widows  of  kings  were  obliged  to  become  nuns. 

In  A.  D.  633  it  was  decreed  in  the  fourth  coun- 
cil of  Toledo,  that  no  monk,  tho'  made  fo  by  the 
devotion  of  his  parents,  fhould  ever  return  to  fe- 
cular  life.     Bingham  p.  255. 

In  A.  D.  694  abbeires,  as  well  as  abbots,  fuh- 
fcribed  to  the  council  of  Becanfield  in  Kent,  and 
Jjefore  both  prcfbyters  and  temporal  lords.  This 
js  the  firfl  time  that  fuch  a  thing  occurs  in  the  hif- 
tory   of  the  church.     lb.  p.  259. 

It  is  probable  that  there  were  many  perfons 
who  lived  on  pillars  in  the  Eaft  within  this  period, 

thQ' 


Sec.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         199 

Xho'  their  names  have  not  come  down  to  us.  For 
when,  after  the  death  ot  Tarafus  in  a.  d.  806, 
Theodore  advifed  the  emperor  Nicephorus  to 
chufe  the  mod  worthy  to  fucceed  him  in  the  pa- 
triarchate of  Conllantinople,  he  wifhed  him  to  look 
out  not  only  among  bifhops  and  abbots,  but  alfo 
among  the  Jly lit es,  and  the  reckife. 

There  occur  many  examples  within  this  period 
offovereign  princes  renouncing  their  dignities,  and 
confining  themfelves  in  cloifters.       Coenred  king 
of  Mercia,  after  having  reigned  fix  years,  went  iq 
Rome  in  A.  d.  789,  and  there  embraced  the  mo- 
jiaflic  life.     OfFa  king  of  the  Eafl;   Saxons  at  the 
fame  time  did  the  fame,     and  tho'  young  he  left 
his  wife,  his  country,  and  kin^^dom  together.     Ceo- 
lulph  king  of  Nor  humberland  quitted  his   kirg- 
dom  in  a.  d.  737  after  he  had  reigned  i:in^  years, 
and  he  afterwards  lived  twenty- two  years  in  a  mo- 
nallery.      Carloman  king  of  the  Orien'al  Franks 
renounced  the  world  in  a.  d   747,  leaving  the  go- 
vernment to  his  fon  Pepin.       He  received  the  mo- 
naftic   habit  at  the   hands   of  the  pope,  and  after 
pafling  fome  time  in  a  monaftery  at  Sora6le,  fpent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  at  that  of  mount  Caffin, 
conforming  to  the  mofl  rigorous  difcipline  of  that 
place,  fometimes  ferving  in  the  kitchen,    keeping 
^he  Iheep,     and   working  in  the   garden,     Rachis 

N  ^  king 


*^0Q  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV. 

k'ng  of  the  Lombards  retired  to  the  fame  monaflery 
in  A.  D.  yf^o. 

Sebbi  km>4  of  Eflex  would  have  embraced  the 
monaflic  life  it  he  could  have  perfuaded  his  wife  to 
do  he  fa;ne.  When  he  was  at  the  point  of  death, 
he  receivtd  the  monaflic  habit  at  the  hands  of  the 
bifhop  of  Loud  n,  and  was  the  firft  inftance,  as 
Fleury  fays,  tha'.  he  finds  of  any  perfon  cliufing 
to  die  in  this  manner.  In  later  times  it  was  very 
common.   Vol.  g.  p.  6. 

Vamba  king  of  Spain,  being  to  appearance  at 
the  point  of  death,  in  a.  d.  680,  put  on  the  mo- 
naflic habit,  arid  recovering  he  was  deemed  in- 
Capab:e  of  the  crown.  The  tvvelfih  council  of 
Toledo  confirmed  his  refignation,  and  the  eledion 
of  his  fuccelTor,  declaring  it  to  be  unlawful  for  any 
perfon  profefling  himfelf  a  monk  to  take  any  mi- 
litary fun6lion,  which  was  implied  in  that  of  a 
Jcing.  Vamba  lived  in  a  monaftery  feven  years. 
This,  fays  Fleury,  is  the  firft  inftance  of  the  cler- 
gy abfolving  any  perfons  from  their  oath  of  obe- 
dience to  a  temporal  prince.  Vol.  9.  p.  62. 

Exemptions  of  monafteries  from  epifcopal  ju* 
rifdiftion  gained  fome  ground  in  this  period.  In 
the  formulary  of  Maiculfus,  publiftied  about  the 
year  a.  d.  660,  we  fee  the  beginning  of  it,  the 
bifhop  promifing  to  give  orders  to  any  whom  the 
^.bbot  or  the  m.oiiks  fhould  recommend;    and  not 

to 


Sec.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  201 

to  enter  the  monaftery  but  at  the  requeft  of  the 
abbot.  In  a.  d.  751  pope  Zachary,  at  the  requeft 
of  Boniface,  granted  an  exemption  to  the  monaf- 
tery  of  Fulda  from  all  epifcopal  jurifdi£lion,  ex- 
cept that  of  the  holy  fee.  This,  fays  Fleury,  is 
the  firft  example  of  this  kind  of  exemption.  Mo- 
nafteries  founded  by  princes  were  independent  of 
the  bifliops  of  the  diocefe,  and  fubjeft  to  no  other 
infpe6lion  than  that  of  the  king's  chaplain. 

In  A.  i).  785  pope  Adrian  granted  to  two  mo- 
nafteries,  one  of  St.  Martin  de  Tours,  and  that 
of  St.  Denis  near  Paris,  the  privilege  of  having 
bifhops  of  their  own.  Other  monafterics  had  the 
fame.  Thefe  bifhops  were  in  general  fuch  as, 
having  quitted  their  preferments,  had  retired  to 
thefe  monafteries,  and  fome  time  they  were  village 
bilhops  v/ho  had  their  refidence  in  them.  Some- 
times «he  abbot  himfelf  was  the  bilhop,  and  fome- 
times  they  v/ere  only  piiefls  who  had  the  title  of 
bifhops,  becaufe  they  were  fent  to  preach  in  cer- 
tain diflricls. 

In  fo  high  reputation  were  the  auflerities  of  the 
pionkifh  life  at  this  time,  and  fo  diffolute  were  the 
manners  of  many  of  the  fecular  clergy,  that  a  re- 
formation for  the  promoting  of  piety  and  learning 
was  much  wanted.  Tliis  was  attempted,  and  in  a 
great  mcafure  fuccefsfully  executed,  by  Chrodo- 
gand  billiop  of  Metz,  in  a.  d.  763,  who,  in  imi- 

N  5  tation 


a02  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV, 

tation  of  Eufebius  of  Verceil,  and  Auflin,  formed 
0.  {ociety  of  the  dcrgy  within  his  church,  appoint- 
ing revenues  lufiScient  for  their  maintenance,  and 
obliging  them  to  live  as  much  as  poffible  for  thofe 
svho  had  clerical  dujty,  acg-^rding  to  the  rules  of 
Benedict. 

He  did  not  require  abfolute  poverty  of  his  ca^ 
nons,  as  thofe  regular  clergy  were  called,  but  that 
th^y  fhould  give  all  their  property  to  the  church 
of  Mvi-tz,  enjoying  only  the  ufufruQ;.  They  had 
the  difpofal  of  the  alms  that  were  given  formaffes, 
confefTion,  and  attendance  upon  the  fick,  it  they 
were  not  given  to  the  community.  And  this,  fays 
Fleury,  is  the  firft  mention  that  is  made  of  aims 
formaffes,  or  any  clerical  duty.  Thole  rules  of 
Chrodo^and  were  afterwards  adopted  in  mod  ca- 
thedral churches,  as  thofe  of  Benedifl;  were  in  th^ 
nionafteries. 

The  rule  of  Chrodogand  was  condemned  by 
Nicolas  II  in  a.  d.  1059  on  account  of  its  permit- 
king  the  canons  to  enjoy  the  poffeflions  they  had 
before  their  vows,  and  its  allowing  them  too  large 
a  portion  of  bread  and  wine.  But  the  true  reafvn 
was  that  it  was  inftituted  by  the  emperor,  without 
the  confent  or  knowledge  of  the  pope.  MoJJiem, 
Vol.  2.  p.  130. 

We  find  great  complaints  of  irregular  monaf- 
terics  in  this  period.      It  appears  by  the  rules  of 

Fru6luo= 


Sec.VII.  the  christian  church.         203 

Frucluofus   archbifhop  of  Braga,    for  the  monaf- 
teries  in  Spain,  that  there  were  what  were  called 

falje  monajleries  in  his  time,  eredled  by  private  per- 
ibns  on  their  own  authorirv,  who  confined  them- 
felves  to  their  country  hoiifes,  with  their  wives, 
children,  flaves,  and  neighbours,  engaging  hy  oath 
to  live  ift  common,  but  without  rule,  or  fuperior. 
They  were,  it  is  faid,  interefled  people,  who  far 
from  giving,  plundered  others  on  pretence  of  po- 
verty. They  were  quarreifome,  and  often  called 
on  their  relations  and  friends  to  affiil  them  with  an 
armed  force.  Bede  complains  of  fuch  pretended 
monafteries  in  England  during  thirty  years  before 
he  wrote.  It  is  faid  there  were  alfo  priefts  who, 
to  get  the  reputation  of  piety,  or  to  preferve  their 

,  tithes  and  other  pcrquifites,  ere6l;ed  themfelves  in- 
to the  fuperiors  of  monafteries  without  conform- 
ing  to  the  monaftic  rules  ;  and  they  received  with 
open  arms  thofe  who  quitted  other  monafteries, 
the  difcipline  of  which  they  decried. 

This  account  favours  much  of  exaggeration. 
The  perfons  here  complained  of  might  be  difgufted 
with  many  things  in  the  condu6l  of  the  generality 
of  the  monafteries  of  this  time,  and  think  they  con- 
fulted  their  own  improvement  better  by  adopting 
rules  of  their  own. 

The  mot.kifli  difcipline  being  greatly  relaxed, 
found  an  eminent  reftorer  towards  the  clofe  of  thif 

perioc. 


SG4  THE  HISTORY  Of  Per.  XV, 

period  In  B2nedi6l  of  Aniene  in.  France,  a  perfon 
of  Gothic  extraction,  and  born  about  a.  d.  750. 
His  father,  the  count  of  Maquelone,  placed  him 
jn  the  fervice  of  king  Pepin,  and  he  was  afterwards 
attached  to  Charlemagne ;  but  becoming  a  monk 
at  the  abby  of  St.  Seine,  he  diftinguilhed  himfelf 
fo  much  by  his  voluntary  aufterities,  as  to  be  cen- 
fured  and  ridiculed  by  the  other  monks. 

His  only  food  was  bread  without  any  wine. 
He  flept  little,  fometimes  on  the  bare  ground,  and 
often  paflfed  the  night  in  the  coldeft  weather  witli 
his  feet  uncovered,  and  was  many  days  without 
fpsaking  a  word.  He  wore  the  meaneil  drefs,  the 
holes  in  which  he  mended  with  cloth  of  any  colour, 
and  alfo  bore  the  vermin  with  which  it  fwarmed, 
fo  that  he  was  confidered  by  his  fellow  monks  as 
a  madman.  The  abbot  endeavoured  to  prevail 
upon  him  to  abate  of  his  aufterities,  but  without 
efF:6l.  He  faid  the  rules  of  Benedi61;  were  tor  the 
weak,  whereas  he  aimed  at  greater  pcrfe6lion  ;  but 
finding  that  he  fhould  have  few  imitators  on  this 
rigid  plan,  he  reverted  to  the  obfervance  of  Bene- 
dict's rules. 

On  the  death  of  the  abbot  he  was  chofen  to 
fucceed  him,  but  there  being  too  much  difiference 
between  his  manners  and  thofe  of  the  monks  of  this 
monaflery,  he  retired  to  an  eflate  of  his  own  near 
a  brook  called   Aniane  in   Aquitaine,    where  he 

foundecj 


Sec.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  205 

• 

founded  another  monaftery  about  the  year  a.  d. 
780 ;  but  the  monks  finding  they  were  to  receive, 
their  viftuals  by  meafure,  many  of  them  left  him. 
A  few,  however,  continued  with  him,  tho'  they 
had  neither  farm  nor  vineyard,  cattle  or  horfes, 
but  only  an  afs  to  carry  them  when  it  was  abfolute- 
ly  neceCfary.  Their  numbers  increafing,  they  built 
a  new  monaftery  with  their  own  hands,  and  cover- 
ed it  with  thatch.  Their  facred  velTels  were  at 
firft  of  wood,  thenofglafs,  and  laftly  of  tin.  Af- 
terwards Benedift  admitted  of  fome  ornaments  in 
his  church,  and  many  donations  being  made  to 
this  new  monaftery,  he  received  the  lands,  but 
gave  liberty  to  the  ferfs  that  were  upon  them,  and 
never  reclaimed  any  thing  that  was  ftolen  from, 
him. 

The  example  of  Benedift  was  followed  hy  ma- 
ny other  perfons  ;  and  being  afTifted  by  dukes  and 
counts,  he  began  in  a.  d.  782  to  build  a  church 
with  more  magnificence.  He  alfo  rebuilt  his 
cloifter  with  pillars  of  marble,  and  taking  down 
his  thatched  roof,  he  replaced  it  with  one  of  tiles. 
All  the  decorations  of  his  church  were  regulated 
by  the  number  fevcn.  He  had  feven  chandeliers, 
with  feven  branches,  feven  lamps  before  the  altar, 
&c.  Sec.  But  what  he  did  of  moft  value  was  col- 
ledling  a  great  number  of  books,  and  he  had  among 
his  monks  grammarians,  theologians,  and  perlons 

well 


*J06  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XVi 

wfeU  acquainted  with  the  fcriptures,  of  whom  fome 
•were  afterwards  bifhops. 

Being  in  great  favour  with  Charlemagne,  Bene- 
dift  received  from  him  valuable  prefents,  whicli 
he  diftributed  among  various  monafteries,  which 
he  vifited  with  great  afliduity,  as  their  common 
parent.  The  monks  under  his  immediate  care 
being  increafed  to  three  hundred,  he  ere£ied  a 
larger  building,  which  afterwards  ferved  for  more 
than  a  thoufand,  and  in  various  places  he  eftabhfh- 
ed  fmaller  monafteries  dependent  upon  this,  which 
were  in  later  times  called  priories.  His  monks 
Were  fent  for  to  other  monafteries  where  the  difci- 
pline  was  become  relaxed,  to  ferve  for  an  example 
to  them. 

The  emperor  Lewis  gave  Benedift  the  fuperin- 
fcendance  of  all  the  monafteries  in  his  dominions, 
and  with  his  afliftance  made  new  regulations  for 
them  a'l  at  Aix  in  a.  d.  817.  The  principal 
^aufe  of  the  relaxation  of  difcipline  then  fo  much 
fcomplaintd  of  was  the  oblervance  of  different  rules 
in  different  monafteries,  pretending  to  be  all  of 
*  the  order  of  Benedi6l ;  but  now  they  were  made 
exaftly  the  fame.  Corporal  punifliment  was  al- 
lowed, but  the  monks  were  not  to  be  whipptd 
naked  in  the  prefence  ot  their  brethren.  Bentdicl; 
died  in  a.  d.  821,  a^ed  70. 

SUCTION 


Sec.viii.the  christian  church,      iof 

SECTION  VIII. 

Of  the  dijordcrly  State  of  this  Period, 


s 


'  O  great  w&ct  the  public  violences  and- 
diforders  of  every  kind,  in  the  courfe  of  this  pe- 
riod, tho'  they  were  exceeded  in  the  fubfequenfc 
ones,  that  to  give  a  clearer  idea  of  them,  as  far  as 
ccclefiaftical  mitters  were  affe6led  by  them,  I  fhall 
colle6t  the  principal  articles  into  a  fe6lion  by  them* 
felves. 

Exceffive  fuperftition,  and  great  crimes,  often 
go  together,  men  having  recourfe  to  the  one  as  an 
atonement  and  compenfation  for  the  other  ^  and 
Chriftian  princes  too  often  fet  the  example  of  oc- 
calionally  plundering  the  wealth  of  churches,  and 
monafteries,  as  well  as  of  bellowing  it.  After  the 
death  of  pope  Honorius,  and  before  the  eleflion 
of  another,  the  emperor's  officers  plundered  the 
treafury  of  the  church  of  Rome,  and  carried  large 
fums  to  Conftantinople.  The  monaftery  of  Mounfc 
Caffin  was  intirely  ruined  by  the  Lombards,  but 
reftored  by  the  orders  of  pope  Gregory  II  in  a.  d. 
718,  one  hundred  and  forty  years  after  the  de- 
vaftation.  Charles  Martel  often  gave  the  goods 
of  the  church  to  laymen,  for  the  afliftance  they 
gave  him  in  the  wars  that   he  carried  on  againft 

the 


2o»  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV* 

the  Saracens.  Boniface,  the  apoftle  of  Germany, 
was  much  afFe6led  with  the  frtquent  inftances  of 
this  ufurpation  of  the  property  of  the  church  by 
laymen.  Writing  to  Cuthbert,  archbiihop  of 
Canterbury,  he  fays,  "  Every  layman,  king,  go- 
«  vernor,  or  court,  who  takes  a  monaftery  by  vio- 
"  lence,  withdrawing  it  from  the  ecclefiaftical 
"  power,  and  fubjefting  the  monks  to  himfelf,  is 
*'  called  by  the  antient  Fathers  a  raviflier,  a  facri- 
*'  legious  prince,  and  a  murderer  of  the  poor,  de- 
«'  fervinfT  of  a  terrible  anathema  before  the  tribunal 
"  of  Jefus  Chrift." 

Writing  to  pope  Zachary  in  a.  b.  742,  he  fays, 
**  the  greateft  part  of  the  cpifcopal  fees  in  France 
<•  are  abandoned  to  laymen,  debauched  clergy,  of 
*'  public  farmers.  This  had  been  the  cafe"  he  fays, 
"  ei^^hfcy  years."  He  probably,  however,  referred 
to  that  part  of  France  which  bordered  on  Germa- 
ny, where  he  rcTided.  He  fays,  however,  that 
there  were  biftiops  and  prieils  of  the  French  na- 
tion plunged  in  adultery,  and  debauchery,  as  ap- 
pears by  the  children  they  have  had  fmce  their 
ordination.  In  the  fame  year,  however,  a  coun- 
cil was  held  in  Germany  for  the  purpofe  of  cor- 
refting  thefe  abufes,  in  confcquence  of  which  pope 
Zachary  addrelled  a  letter  to  the  French  nation, 
in  which  he  thanks  God  that  he  had  expelled  fronf 
them  the  falfe  fchifmalical  piiefts  and  concubin^ 

aries* 


Sec.VIIL  the  christian  church.         209 

aries.  But  by  the  fubfequent  ftate  of  things  it  too 
evidently  appears  that  to  order  a  thing  to  be  done, 
and  a6lually  to  do  it,  are   very  different. 

Thefe  diforders,  as  appears  by  this  accountj 
were  owing  to  the  c'ergy  themfe'ves,  almofl  as 
much  as  to  the  laity.  The  greater  clergy  diflPered 
but  little  in  their  habits  of  living  from  the  laity  of 
equal  wealth  and  power.  During  the  troubles  of 
France,  the  bifhops,  and  even  fome  of  thofe  who 
were  the  mod  efteemed  for  their  piety,  took  a 
great  part  in  public  affairs,  and  in  time  of  war 
marched  with  bodies  of  armed  men  like  other  great 
lords.  But  in  A.  d.  803,  when  Charlemagne  held 
a  council  at  Worms,  it  was  requefted  by  the  laity 
of  all  his  ftates,  that  the  bifhops  and  priells  might 
not  go  to  the  wars,  feveral  of  them  having  beerl 
flain  in  battle,  and  much  inconvenience  of  various 
kinds  having  arifen  from  it.  Accordingly  it  was 
ordered,  that  only  two  or  three  of  the.  clergy, 
chofen  by  the  reft,  fhould  attend  the  army,  and 
that  only  to  give  the  benedidion,  and  for  other 
fpiritual  fun6lions. 

The  bifhops  of  thefe  times  not  only  took  parfc 
in  civil  diffentions,  but  fometimes  appeared  ia 
arms  againft  their  fovereigns.  When  Wulfred  was 
paOing  thro'  France,  he  was  met  by  one  of  the 
biftiaps  who  had  confpired  and  killed  kwa-  Da'^o- 
bert,  at   the  head  of  a  great  army,    with  a  dcCgri 

Vol.  IIL  O  to 


210  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

to  feize  him,  and  all  his  companions,  to  kill  thofs 
who  fhould  make  refiftance,  to  fell  others  for  flave&, 
and  put  Wulfred  himfclf  in  prifon. 

Some  inftances  of  open  violences  committed 
by  clergymen  of  thofe  times,  as  well  as  thofe  in 
which  they  were  the  fufFerers,  are  fliocking  in  the 
extreme.  Tetricus,  bifhop  of  Auxerre,  was  killed 
by  his  archdeacon  while  he  flept.  Lambert  was 
bilhop  of  Maiflrift  when  two  brothers,  Gallus  and 
Riold,  plundered  the  goods  of  his  church,  and 
became  incorrigible  in  their  violences.  The  friends 
and  relations  of  this  bifhop,  provoked  at  this, 
killed  them  both.  Thefe  brothers  were  the  rela- 
tions of  Dodon,  a  domeflic  of  Pepin,  mayor  of 
the  palace,  who  revenged  their  death  upon  the 
bifhop  himfelf.  He  attacked  him  in  his  own  houfe, 
and  murdered  him,  and  ail  the  perfons  he  found 
in  it.  In  a.  d.  715  Savaric  bifhop  of  Auxerre, 
attacked  with  an  army  the  country  of  Orleans, 
Nevers,  and  feveral  other  places,  and  annexed 
them  to  his  bifhopric. 

It  appears  that  fome  bifhops,  to  gratify  their 
refentment,  caufed  the  perfons  whom  they  difliked 
to  be  put  to  death  privately,  on  pretence  of  fub- 
jeQing  them  to  penance.  In  the  eleventh  coun- 
cil of  Toledo,  it  was  therefore  ordered,  that  all  of- 
fenders fliould  be  punifhed  in  publick,  or  at  leaft 
in  the  prefence  of  two  or  three  witnelTes,    and  that 

the 


%-^c.  VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         211 

the  fentence  befubfcribed  by  the  bifbop.  Biftiops, 
fays  Fleury,  in  thofe  times  did  condemn  to  fuch 
punifhments.  Vol.  8.  p.  548. 

But  the  moil  brutal  violences  and  cruelties 
tnat  we  meet  with  in  this  period  were  committed 
at  Rome,  on  occafion  of  the  eleftion  of  popes. 
After  the  death  of  pope  Paul  in  a.  d.  ySy,  Con- 
ftantine  a  layman  was  made  pope,  his  brother 
due  Toton  compelling  fhree  bifhops  to  give  him 
holy  orders,  and  confecrate  him  bifhop  of  Rome, 
a  dignity  which  he  held  thirteen  months.  But 
then  he  was  expelled  by  force,  his  brother,  and 
other  partifans,  being  overpowered  by  the  help  of 
the  Lombards,  and  in  the  iflue  Stephen  III  was 
made  pope. 

As  foon  as  he  was  ele6led,  fome  of  his  parti» 
fans  took  Theodore,  a  bifhop  and  vidame  (Vice 
domini)  of  Conftantine,  put  out  his  eyes,  cut  out 
his  tongue,  and  fliut  him  up  in  a  monaftery  on 
mount  Scaurus,  where  he  was  fufFered  to  die  of 
hunger  and  third,  calling  for  water  with  the  mofi 
lamentable  cries.  They  aifo  put  out  the  eyes  of 
Poffit,  another  of  Conftantine's  friends,  and  con- 
iSned  him  in  the  monaftery  of  St.  Silvefter,  feizing 
the  goods  of  them  both.  Conftantine  himfelf, 
after  being  treated  with  the  greateft  indignity,  being 
fet  on  hcrfsback,  with  a  woman's  faddle,  and  with 
heavy  weights  to  his  feet,    was   conduced  to  th€ 

O  2  monaA 


;r^. 


glS  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV. 

monaftery  of  Celles  neuves.  There  he  was  fo- 
lemnly  degraded,  his  eyes  put  out,  and  left  ex- 
pofed  in  the  pubhc  ftreet.  The  priefl  Valdepert 
had  his  eyes  put  out,  and  his  tongue  cut  out,  iii 
fo  cruel  a  manner,  that  he  died  of  the  operation. 
After  fome  time,  a  council  was  held  at  Rome, 
whither  Conftantine  was  brought ;  when,  throw- 
ing himfelf  on  the  ground,  with  his  hands  extend- 
ed on  the  pavement,  he  confeCTed  his  fault  with 
tears.  The  next  day,  when  he  was  making  his 
apology,  he  was  driven  out  of  the  cl.urch  with 
blows,  and  condemned  to  do  penance  all  the  reffi 
of  his  life. 

The  treatment  of  pope  Leo  III,  whether  he 
was  guilty  or  innocent  of  the  things  laid  to  his; 
charge,  is  another  proof  of  the  violence  of  thefe 
times.  Having  affronted  one  Pafcal,  an  officer 
of  his  court,  the  latter,  accompanied  by  fome  of 
his  fnends,  feized  the  pope  in  the  midd  of  a  folema 
proceffion,  and  threw  him  on  the  ground.  There 
they  ftripped  him,  tore  his  deaths,  and  endea- 
voured to  put  out  his  eyes,  and  cut  out  his  tongue. 
They  left  him,  however,  in  the  middle  of  the 
ftreet,  believing  that  they  had  made  bim  both 
blind  and  dumb.  Returning  to  him  again,  they 
dragged  him  into  the  church  of  a  monaflery,  and 
before  the  altar  again  endeavoured  to  put  out  his 
eyes,     and  cut  out  his  tongue.       Then  alfq  they 

left 


Ssc.  VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  au 

left  him  weltering  in  blood,  and  confined  him  un- 
der a  ilrong  guari  in  the  fame  monaftery.  Fear- 
ing that  Iiis  fjfends  might  rcfcue  him  thrre,  thev 
convey*  d  him  toanr^t'ier  monaflcry,  and  kept  him 
a  clofV  ptilbncr.  Hoxv-evcr,  making  his  efcape,  he 
fl^rj  to  CharlernaiJne.  who  was  then  in  Saxony. 
Being  well  received  by  this  prince,  he  returned 
to  .'l')ins  wi;!)  a  i^^nat  force,  accompanied  by 
.co-mnii^y.{iiZTS  from  Charletnagne  to  inquire  into 
the  accufa'iions  agiiiiil  hi:n;  an:^  they,  finding  no 
proof  of  the  things  that  were  laid  to  his  char^c^ 
feized  his  encmks,  and  fent  them  to  France.  la 
A.  i>.  800  when  Charlemagne  came  to  Rome,  ths 
fourth  time,  the  pope  purged  himfelf  before  him 
by  taking  a  folemn  oa- h  that  he  was  not  guilty  of 
the  things  of  which  he  was  accufed,  and  this  was 
deemed  fufficient  for  his  juflification.  The  em- 
peror then  heard  Pafcal,  and  the  other  enemies  of 
the  pope,  and  condemned  them  to  death  ;  but  the 
pope  interceding  for  them,  they  were  only  baniih- 
ed  into  France. 

Ages  of  fuperflitlon  are  alfo  times  of  other  im- 
moralities befides  open  violence  :  for  what  vice  is 
there  tor  which  fome  fuperftitious  pra6lice  has  not 
been  thought  an  atonement.  Boniface,  writing 
to  Ethelbald  king  of  Mercia,  reproves  him  for 
having  no  lawful  wife,  and  debauching  nuns.  He 
addvS,  that  the  Englifh  nation  vvere  noted  for  their 

Q  g  debauch- 


214  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XV, 

debauchery  in  France  and  Italy.  It  was,  he  fays, 
as  a  punifhment  forfuch  vices  as  thefe.  that  Spain, 
Provence,  and  Burgundy,  were  abandoned  to  the 
Saracens.  Wriring  to  Cuthbert,  archbifhop  of 
Canterbury,  he  complains  that  the  honour  of  the 
Britifh  church  fufFered  much  in  confequence  of  the 
frequent  pilgrimages  of  nuns  from  England  to 
Rome.  Moft  of  them,  he  fays,  lofe  their  modefly* 
There  are  few  cities  in  L^mbardy  or  France,  in 
which  there  are  not  fome  Englifh  proftitutes.  It 
is  a  fcandal,  he  adds,  to  the  whole  church. 


SECTION  IX. 

Mifcellaneous  Articles. 


I 


SHALL  begin  my  account  of  mifcel- 
laneous articles  that  occur  in  this  period  with  fuch 
as  relate  to  churches,  public  worlhip,  or  difciplinc. 
I.  At  the  fourth  council  of  Toledo,  in  a.  d. 
633,  it  was  ordered  that  the  fame  form  of  public 
worfhip  fhould  be  obferved  thro'  all  Spain,  left, 
they  fay,  there  fhou'd  be  the  appearance  of  fchifm 
in  the  church.  Jfidore  bifhop  of  Seville  is  confi- 
dered  as  the  author  of  the  Mofarabic  liturgy,  and 
he  dire6led  all  the  proceedings  of  this  council ;  bufc 
he  fays  that  his  brother  Learider  took  much  pains 

with  it. 

At 


:hr 


Sec.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  21£ 

At  this  council  the  Apocalyps  was  ordered  to 
be  read  in  the  churches,  feme  even  then  not  ac- 
knowledging it  to  be  a  canonical  book. 

At  a  preceding  council  of  Toledo,  viz.  a.  d. 
.622,  it  was  ordered  that  baptifm  Ihould  be  ad- 
miiiillered  with  one  immerfion,  left  by  three  im- 
merlioas  they  fhould  imitate  the  Arians.  It  ap- 
pears by  the  capitulary  of  Theodulph  bifhop  of 
Orleans  in  a.  d.  785,  that  all  children,  even  in 
cafe  of  ficknefs,  were  baptized  in  churches,  and 
not  in  private  houfes.  It  appears  by  the  fame 
work,  that  the  dead  were  forbidden  to  be  buried 
in  churches,  it  beginning  then  to  be  pradiced. 

Perfons  employed  in  converting  the  people  of 
Frifeland  about  a.  d.  696,  carried  with  them, 
befides  veffels  for  the  celebration  of  the  eucharift, 
a  confecrated  table,  which  ferved  for  an  altar, 
which,  fays  Fleury,  is  the  firft  mention  that  ijS 
made  of  a  portable  altar.  Vol.  9.  p.  iig, 

2.  Inftances  of  the  fuperltition  of  thefe  times 
with  refpe6l  to' public  worfhip,  and  every  thing 
elfe,  are  without  end,  this  being  alwajs  in  pro- 
portion to  ignorance. 

It  being  contrary    to  the  canons   to  rebaptize 
any  perfon  who  had  been  baptized,  even  by  here- 
tics, with  the  proper  form  of  words,  that  is,  in  the 
■name  of  the  Father,  the  Son,   and  the   Holy  GhoJK 
■  Boniface,  fo  often  mentioned  in  the  hiftory  of  this 

O  4  period. 


SIS  THE  HISTORY  01-  Per.  XV. 

period,  when  he  vvas  about  to  bapt'zc  r.ny  perfon 
with  refpe^l  to  whofe  previous  baptiCm  he  had  any 
doubt,  faid,  "  I  do  not  rebaptizc  thj-e,  but,  if 
**  thou  be  not  bap'ized,  I  baptize  thee  in  the  name 
*'  &c.  &.Z."  This,  fays  Fleury,  is  the  firll  in- 
Hance  ot  conditional  baptifm.   Vol.  9.  p,  346. 

We  fee,  however,  fome  maiks  of  good  fenfe 
in  the  direclions  of  pope  Zachary  with  refpsft  tq 
baptifm.  Two  priefts  who  travelled  m  G(  rrr.any 
under  the  condu6l  ot  Boniface  wrote  to  inform  him 
of  another  prieft,  who,  being  ignorant  of  Latin, 
faid  when  he  bTp'ized  any  pe  fon,  haptizo  ie  in  nO" 
mine  P atria,  et  Fdia,  et  Spiriiua  San6la,  ii;{lead 
of  Patris,  et  Filii,  et  Spintus  SanEli,  and  Boni- 
face was  of  opinion  that  fuch  perfons  ought  to  be 
j-ebaptized  ;  but  the  pope  very  fenfibly  obfervcd, 
that  it  was  a  valid  baptifm,  as  there  was  no  here- 
fy  in  the  cafe,  but  only  ignorance  of  the  Latin 
tongue,  and  faid  he  was  aflonifhed  at  the  opinioji 
of  Boniface  on  the  fubjefl. 

In  the  latter  end  of  the  fixth  century,  women 
did  not  receive  the  communion  bread  with  their 
•naked  hands,  but  with  a  fair  linen  cloth.  Some 
think  this  cullom  was  as  antient  a§  the  time  of 
Auflin.     Bingham  Vol.  i,  p.  799. 

It  is  well  known  that  fuperflition  found  its 
way  into  the  courts  of  juftice  of  thofe  times  ;  but 
one  of  the  forms  of  it,  mentioned  in  the  capitulary 


3zc.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH*         ^tf 

of  Charlcmajne,  is  curious.  In  a  cafe  in  which 
cither  of  the  parties  might  be  perjured  without  dif- 
covery,  they  butli  flood  with  'heir  arms  extended 
up  ight  beiore  a  crofs,  and  he,  who  could  Hand  the 
Ion  eft  m  that  pofture  was  deemed  innocent. 

It  will  be  allowed  to  be  an  argument  of  the  pro- 
giefsbf  fuperliition,  and  of  a  very  hurtful  kind, 
that  pope  Bonif'iC-  V  made  churclies  places  ot  re- 
fuge for  all  criminals.    M'l/Iieim,  Vol.  2.  p.  28. 

Tho'  marria»e  could  not  be  deemed  abfolutelr 
unlawlul,  it  was  thought  that  th.rc;  was  a  kind  of 
poLutio.  attendmg  it;  and  accoidaig  to  the  pe- 
nitential uf  Theodore  archbilr^op  ofCactcrbu'}  ,  a 
ncvv  married  couple  were  not  pcrniitied  to  truer  a 
church  within  a  month  of  the. r  marriage,  and  they 
underwent  a  penance  of  a  iortniglit  bciore  thej 
were  admitted   o  communion. 

3.  Al'  Chriilians  for  a  long  time  refrained  from 
eatinj  blood,  as  rh^y  Hill  do  except  inthefc  weft- 
ern  p  rts.  Bet  p  -pe  Adri.  n,  in  Ins  letter  to  the 
bifhops  of  Spain,  declares  thofe  to  be  anathema- 
tized who  ate  pork.  Pope  Zachary  writing  to  Bo- 
niface, the  ap'>lUe  of  Germany,  forbad  the  eating 
of  the  jay,  the  crow,  the  ftork,  axid  even  the  hare. 
Sueur  A.  D.  748. 

4.  MafTes  for  the  dead,  and  other  fources  of 
gain  to  the  priefts,  were  greatly  promoted  by  fa- 
bulous relations,to  which  perfous  of  piety,  and  even 

O  5  of 


ei«  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV, 

iof  good  fenfe  in  other  refpe6ls  were  too  apt  to  give 
credit.  Bede  tells  a  ftory  of  a  young  man  who 
"Was  taken  prifoner,  when  a  brother  of  his  who  wa^ 
a  prieft,  fuppofing  him  to  be  dead,  ufed  to  fay 
jnafs  for  his  foul,  at  a  certain  hour  every  day,  ancj 
at  that  time  he  faid  his  bonds  were  always  loofe. 
This  being  divulged  excited  many  to  get^  thofe 
miaffes  faid  for  them. 

5.  The  ignorance  of  this  age  extended  to  the 
clergy  as  well  as  the  laity,  tho'  not  in  the  Lmc 
degree.  There  was  certainly  more  learnmg  in 
the  Eail  than  in  the  Weft,  and  yet  at  the  fecond 
council  of  Nice  in  a.  d.  787,  it  was  thought  ne- 
ceffarv  to  order  that  every  bifhop  fhould  be  requi- 
red to  know  the  pfalter,  tho'  by  this  was  probably 
meant  that  he  was  to  be  able  to  repeat  it,  or  fome 
part  of  it,  by  hekrt.  And  the  metropolitan  wa,s 
to  examine  him  whether  he  was  determined  to 
read  with  affiduity  the  canons,  the  councils,  an(J 
the  fcriptures. 

Few  of  the  clergy  of  this  age  being  qualified 
60  preach,  Charlemagne  engaged  Paulus  Diaconus, 
and  Alcuin,  to  compofe  homilies,  or  difcourfes  on 
die  gofpels  and  epiftles,  which  were  read  in  the 
public  fervices,  and  which  the  clergy  were  to  com- 
jjnit  to  memory  and  repeat.  This  gave  rife  to  the 
famous  colleftion  which  went  by  the  name  of  the 
hoindiariiim  of  Charlemagne,  and  which  has  been 

follow- 


6ec.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  310 

followed  by  many  other  limilar  works.  Mojhcim 
Vol.  2.  p.  84.  This  prince  directed  the  Roman 
ritual  to  be  ufed  in  all  his  dominions.   lb. 

Charlemagne,  whatever  his  own  education  had 
been,  endeavoured  to  provide  a  remedy  for  the  ig- 
norance of  the  age  in  which  he  lived.  He  brought 
perfons  from  Rome  into  France  to  teach  all  tne 
fciences,  of  which  there  was  at  that  time  any  kno./- 
led^e;  and  befides  eftablifhing  fchools  within  the 
precin6ls  of  iiis  own  palace,  he  app  ..inted  them  in 
feveral  cathedral  churches  and  monafteries.  The 
perfon  he  chiefly  employed  m  this  bufinefs  wa^ 
Alcuin  an  En-lifhnian,  and  by  him  Charles  him- 
f;;f  ^va<5  ifiilmcltd  in  feveral  fciences,  ^fpecially 
aitronomy.  He  exprcffed  hixnieif  with  eafe  in 
feveral  ioieig!)  languages.  He  fpoke  Latin  as  well 
as  Ger.nan,  which  was  his  native  tongue,  and  he 
underftood  Greek,  tlio'  he  could  not  fpcak  it 
well. 

It  was  but  little  however  that  was  cfFecled  by 
thefe  wellmeant  eflaLiifiimenis  of  Charlemag- 
ne.  All  the  literature  ot  thofe  times  lay  in. 
a  very  fmall  compafs,  and  few  were  qualified  to 
teich  even  that.  The  whole  circle  of  fciences  was 
then  divided  into  feven  parts,  viz.  Grammar,  Rhe- 
toric, and  Logic,  called  the  irivium,  and  Arith- 
metic, Mufic,  Geometry,  and  Aftronomy,  called 
she  quadriymm,     and  the  manner  of  teaching  had 

little 


$20  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV. 

little  to  recommend  it.  They  who  wifhed  to  pur- 
fue  their  ftudies  beyond  the  ufual  bounds  of  this 
circle  were  advifed  to  ftudy  the  writings  of  Caffio- 
dorus,  and  Eoethius.     MoJJieim  Vol.  2.  p.  57. 

In  the  Eaft  John  of  Damafcus  was  the  moft 
diftinguifhed  for  his  learning  and  ability  in  this 
period.  He  is  (aid  to  have  been  the  firft  who 
mixed  the  philofophy  of  Aiiftotle  with  theology. 
He  diflinguilhed  himfelf  by  compiling,  regulating, 
and  perhaps  compoling,  chaunts  for  the  Greek 
church,  as  pope  Gregory  had  done  for  the  Latin 
church.  Williams  p.  36. 

6.  The  origin  of  country  parilhes  in  England 
was  about  the  end  of  the  feyenth  century.  Bing' 
ham  Vol.  1.  p.  406. 


PERIOD 


sec.l    the  christian  church.       fit 


PERIOD     XVI. 

From      the      Reestablishment     or    thx 
Western   Emptre   in   a.   d.  800  to   th< 

RAISING      OF      OtHO       TO      THE      IMPERIAX. 

Throne   a.  d.  936, 


SECTION  I. 


Of  the  Intcrcourfe  between  the  Greek  and  Latiit 
Churches  on  the  SubjeEl  of  the  Patriarch  Photiu% 
•which  lei  to  their  final  Separation  from  each 
other, 

X  HERE  had  long  fubCfled  a  jea- 
loufy  between  the  bilhops  of  Rome  and  the  pa- 
triarchs of  Conftantinople,  one  the  head  of  the 
Weftern,  and  the  other  of  the  Eaftern  churches  ; 
and  notwithftanding  the  cdift  of  Valentinian  in  fa- 
vour of  the  bifhops  of  Rome,  and  their  claim  to 
fupremacy,  as  fucceflbrs  of  the  apoft'es  Feter  and 
Paul,  the  patriarchs  of  Conftantinople,  which 
from  the  time  of  Conllantine  had  been  the  feat  of 
the  empire,  ill  brooked  their  inferiority;  and 
being  favoured  by  the  emperors,  aflumed  the  fu- 
perintendency    of   thofe    provinces   which   were 

fub- 


3a:t  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.XVI* 

fubjeft  to  the  Greeks,  as  Sicily,  Illyricum,  Dal- 
matia,  &c.  &c. 

The  bifhops  of  Rome,  whom  t  fhall  now  dif« 
tinguifh  by  the  exclufive  title  of  Popes,  which 
gradually  took  place,  having  gained  a  great  in- 
creafe  of  wealth,  power,  and  influence  after  Rome 
was  no  longer  fubje6l  to  the  emperors  of  Conftan- 
feinople,  and  efpecially  after  they  became  temporal 
princes  by  the  donations  of  Pepin  and  Charle- 
magne, were  lefs  than  ever  difpofed  to  yield  to  the 
pretenflons  of  the  Eaftern  patriarchs,  and  were  par- 
ticularly Careful  to  take  advantage  of  any  difficult^ 
ies  in  which  the  Greek  church  was  involved,  and 
when  appeals  were  made  to  them  by  the  contend- 
ing parties  in  it.  This  was  more  efpecially  the 
cafe  on  occafion  of  the  fchifm  which  took  place  iri 
that  church  from  the  rival  patriarchs  Ignatius  and 
Photius ;  and  as  the  difputes  on  this  fubjeO:  led  t« 
the  total  feparationcf  the  two  churches,  I  fhall  be 
the  more  particular  in  my  narrative  concerning  it. 

When  this  diflurbance  commenced,  Bardas, 
uncle  of  the  emperor  Michael,  had  the  chief  au- 
thority in  Conftantinople  ;  and  being  reproved» 
Rnd  finally  excommunicated,  for  hi-  difTo'ute  life 
by  the  patriarch  Ignatius,  he  contrived  to  make 
him  fufpe£ted  of  ieditious  intentions  by  the  em- 
peror,  who  in  November  a.  d.  858  banifhed  him 
iiom  Conftantinople.     The  perfon  chufcn  10  fuc- 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  22s 

ceed  him  was  Photms,  who  was  of  an  illuflrious 
family,  and  related  to  the  emperor,  and  more 
diftinguifhed  for  his  abilities  and  learning  than  any 
perfon  in  that  age,  or  feveral  of  the  preceding* 
He  was  alfo  grand  nephew  of  the  patriarch  Tara- 
fus  ;  and  tho'  a  layman,  and  having  an  office  afr 
court,  he  excelled  in  ecclefiaflical  as  well  as  other 
branches  of  learning. 

Bardas  having  determined  to  make  him  pa=* 
triarch,  fotind  fome  difficulty  in  gaining  the  con- 
fent  of  the  bifhops,  who  were  to  ordain  him ;  but 
on  his  promifing  to  honour  Ignatius  as  his  father, 
and  to  do  nothing  without  his  approbation,  they 
were  all  gained  over  except  Metrophanes,  the  me- 
tropolitan of  Smyrna ;  '  and  from  being  a  layman, 
he  was  in  the  fpace  of  fix  days  raifed  to  the  rank 
of  a  biftiop,  and  on  Chriflmas  day  a.  d.  858  or* 
dained  patriarch  of  Conflantinople.  Two  months, 
however,  had  not  pafTed  before  he  began  to  per^^ 
fecute  all  who  were  attached  to  Ignatius  ;  and  af- 
fembling  a  council,  he  not  only  pronounced  a  fen- 
tence  of  depofition  and  anathema  againfl  Ignatius 
himfelf,  but  depofed  all  who  had  been  ordained 
by  him.  Ignatms  was  firfl  loaded  with  chains, 
arid  then  banifhed  to  Mitylene  in  the  ifle  of  Lef- 
bos ;  but,  as  was  too  cuftomary  in  cafe  of  fup- 
pofed  injuftice,  he  fought  the  protedion  of  pope 
Kicolas,  who,    notwithflanding  the  remonftranGc 


^34 


THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI, 


of  Photius,  paffad  fentence  of  depofition   againft 
him,  and  all  who  had  been  ordained  by  him.     He 
alff)  ordered  Igna  ius  to  be  reftored,    and   that  all 
who  fhould  prevent  it,  of  whatever  rahk  ''meaning 
the  emperor  himfelf )  fhould  be  excommunicated. 
This  condu^   of  the  pope   provoked  the  em- 
peror to   write  to  him  in  a  haugh»^y  and  menacing 
'    manner,  and  infift  upon  his  revoking  the  fentence 
he   had  pronounced  againfl:    Photius.      Nicolas, 
who  was  one  of  the  moft  violent  men  that  had  till 
then  filled  the  pap^l  chair,    rep)ied    with  no  lefs 
ivarmth  ;  and  as  the  emperor  had  treated  rhe  fee  of 
Rome,  as  he  thought,  with  difrefpeft,  he  magni- 
fied the  prerogatives  of  it,    as  frnnded  not  upon 
councils,  but  on  the  words  of  Chrift.  and  threatened 
him  with  excommunication  if  he  did  not  attend  to 
its  admonitions.       Photius,    however,    fupported 
by  the  emperor,  not  only  kept  his  fee,    but  perfe^ 
cuted   all  thofe  who  feparated  from  his   commu- 
nion on  that  account ;  and  hearing  that  the  legates, 
whom  the  pop^^  had  fent  to  Bulgaria,     which  had 
its  firft  inilruaion   in  Cbriliic'inity    from  Conilan- 
tinople,  had  rejefted  the  confecrated  oil  which  he 
had  fent  thither,  h    was  fo  provoked,  that,  calimg 
a  council   a.  d.  866,  in  which  the  emnerors   Mi- 
chael and  Bafiiius  prcfided,     he  accufed  the  pope 
of  many  crimes,  and  pronounced  a  fentence  of  de- 
pofition againa  him.      Among  the  crimes  of  fha 

pope 


5tc.  t.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  225 

pope  he  enumerates  the  difference  of  their  cuftom 
from  thofe  of  the  Greek  church,  but  lays  the  greateft 
ftrefs  on  the    addition  of  the   words  Jiliofue  [and 
frcni  the  Son)  to  the  creed. 

BafiHus  having  murdered  the  emperor  Michaelj 
Who  was  the  friend  of  Photius,  he  was  depofed, 
and  Ignatius  replaced  in  the  patriarchate  -,  when  in 
refentment  of  the  conduct  of  his  rival,  he  not  only 
pronounced  a  fentence.  of  depofition  againft  Pho- 
tius, but  againft  all  who  had  been  ordained  by 
him,  or  who  communicated  with  hint.  He,  more- 
over, requefted  the  emperor  to  call  a  general  coun- 
cil, to  remedy  the  fcandal ;  in  confequence  of  which 
embaffadors  were  immediately  fent  to  Rome  for 
the  purpofe ;  and  writing  to  the  pope  (who  then 
Was  Adrian  II)  on  the  occafion,  he  acknowledged 
his  fupremacy,  and  his  authority  to  reftify  all  the 
diforders  of  the  church.  This  was  fufficient  to 
gain  his  judges,  and  confequently,  in  a  council 
held  at  Rome  a.  d.  868,  the  council  held  by  Pho^ 
tins  was  condemned,  and  the  decrees  of  it  ordered 
to  be  burned,  and  loaded  with  perpetual  anathema. 
In  this  council,  however,  the  temerity  of  Photius 
in  condemning  pope  Nicolas  being  mentioned, 
thejuftice  of  his  condemnation  of  pope  Honorius 
for  herefy  was  exprefsly  allowed.  That  in  the  fol- 
lowing council  for  which  the  emperor  and  Igna*. 
Jius  had  applied,    every  thing  was   as  much  pre- 

Vol.  III.  p  judged 


J8B  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XV  I. 

judged  as  in  all  the  preceding  general  councils; 
was  evident  from  the  pope  requiring,  by  the  legates 
he  fent  to  Conftantinople  on  this  occafion,  the  ab- 
folute  condemnation  of  the  council  held  by  Pho- 
iius,  and  the  confirmation  of  that  which  he  had 
held  in  oppofition  to  it  at  Rome, 

After  this  preparation,  the  eighth  general  court" 
cil,  as  it  is  called,  was  held  in  the  church  of  St.  So- 
phia, on  the  fifth  of  Odober  a.  d.  869,  the  le- 
gates of  the  pope  taking  the  chief  feat.  Ther6 
were  alfo  perfons  who  reprefented  the  fees  of  Je- 
rufalem  and  Antioch,  but  not  that  of  Alexandria, 
Eleven  of  the  principal  officers  of  the  court  at- 
tended on  the  part  of  the  emperor.  Thefe  being 
affembled,  orders  were  firft  given  to  admit  all  thofe 
bifhops  who  had  fuflPered  perfecution  under  Pho- 
tius,  who  were  twelve  in  number,  fo  that  tips  firft 
fefiion  confifted  of  no  more  than  eighteen  perfons. 
In  this  feffion,  however,  a  form  of  union  between 
the  Lalin  and  Greek  churches,  prefented  by  the 
pope,  v/as  read,  and  the  anathema  againft  Photius, 
as  an  ufurper  of  the  fee  of  Conflantinople,  and  alfd 
of  the  council  held  by  him,  was  pronounced ;  and 
to  thefe  they  all  affented. 

In  the  fecond  feffion,  held  two  days  after,  they 
who  had  aded  in  concert  with  Photius  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  council,  on  acknowledging  their  of- 
fence*    They  were  ten  in  all,    and  on  their  fub- 

fCribing 


Sec.  I.     T^IE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ihf 

fcribi ng  the  inftrument  from  Rome  were  permitted 
to  take  their  feats. 

In  the  third  feflion  there  were  in  all  twenty- 
four  bifhops  prefent,  and  fome  of  the  friends  of 
Photius  demanding  to  be  heard,  the  legates  from 
Rome  faid  that,  if  they  came  to  hear  the  letter  of 
pope  Nicolas  they  fhould  be  admitted,  but  not  to 
difpute.  After  much  wrangling,  however,  and 
on  the  remonftrance  of  the  emperor's  deputies,  they 
were  admitted ;  but  refufing  to  fubfcribe  the  in- 
ilrument  from  Rome,  they  were  expelled  the 
council. 

Photius  himfelf  bsing  compelled  to  attend,  he 
Ibehaved  with  great  dignity,  refufing  to  make  any 
anfwer  to  their  interrogatories.  On  their  calling 
him  a  prevaricator  and  adulterer,  (meaning  an 
ufurper  of  the  fee)  he  faid,  "  God  hears  me  with- 
*'  out  my  fpeaking;"  intimating  that  his  appeal 
was  to  him,  and  not  to  them.  On  their  faying 
that  his  lilence  Ihould  not  deliver  him  from  their 
condemnation,  he  faid,  "  Neither  did  the  filence 
*'  of  Jefus  deliver  him."  Being  urged  to  fay  that 
he  fubmitted  to  the  fentence  of  the  pope,  and 
acknowledged  Ignatius  for  the  patriarch,  he  ftill 
kept  filence ;  and  being  prelled  to  fay  what: 
was  his  juftification,  he  replied,  "  My  juflificaion: 
*'  is  not  of  this  world.  If  it  was  of  this  world, 
''  you  would  fee  it."      Being  admonilhed  to  take 

P  2  time^ 


%ii  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI. 

time,  and  confider  his  lituation,  he  laid  he  did 
not  require  any  time ;  but  that,  being  in  thei/ 
power,  they  might  do  with  him  what  they  pleafed. 
After  this  he  was  difmiffed.  In  the  fame  feffion 
the  deputies  from  the  fees  of  Jerufalem  and  An» 
tioch  faid  that  Photius  had  never  been  ackaow- 
ledged  by  them  as  patriarch. 

At  the  fixth  feffion  the  emperor  attended  in  per- 
fon,  when  many  of  the  bifhops  of  Photius's  ordi- 
nation, making  their  fubmiffion,  were  received, 
others  alleging  their  promifes,  and  the  oaths  they 
had  taken  never  to  do  it,  the  legates  from  Rome 
faid  they  would  abfolve  them  by  the  grace  of  Je- 
fus  Chrift,  who  had  given  them  power  to  bind 
and  to  loofe,  fince  they  had  done  it  by  compulfion. 
Being  urged  by  the  emperor  to  fpeak  on  their  own 
behalf,  they  faid  they  would  do  it  if  they  were  at 
liberty,  and  eafily  fhew  that  what  had  been  ad- 
vanced againfl  them  was  nothing  to  the  purpofe.. 
One  of  them  faid  that  the  canons  were  above  pope 
Nicolas,  and  all  the  patriarchs,  and  mentioned 
feveral  inftances  of  bifhops  being  condemned,  but 
not  thofe  ordained  by  them.  After  much  alterca- 
tion the  legates  afked  whether  they  would  fubfcribe 
the  infliument  from  Rome,  and  on  their  refufmg 
they  were  fent  to  another  part  of  the  room.  Me- 
trophanes  of  Smyrna  having  replied  to  what  they 
had  faid,    one  of  them  was  going  to  reply  again. 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  22f 

but  the  legates  v/ould  not  fufiFer  It.  After  this  an 
exhortation  to  the  fchifmatics  was  pronounced  in 
the  name  ot  the  emperor,  who  faid  he  would  allow 
tliern  >eveii  da\  s  in  which  to  make  their  fubmiffion, 
but  lb  at  alcer  this  th..y  would  be  judged  by  the 
cbancil, 

la  the  feventh  feffion  the    emperor  attended, 
and  Photius  being  introduced,    leaning  on  a  ftafF, 
tlie  pope's  legates  ordered  it  to  be  taken  from  him, 
as  being    an  emblem  of  the  pa  floral  office,    from 
which  he  was  depofed  ;  faying  that  he  was  a  wolf, 
and  no  fliepherd.       They   then  afktd  him  if  he 
would  fign  the  inflrument  of  his  rcfignation,    but 
he  replied  that  he  was  willing  to  give  an  account 
of  his  condufl;  to  the  emperor,  but  not  to  the  pope's 
legates.       Being  alked  whether    he  had  any  thing 
more  to  fay,   he  replied,    "  If  you  had  heard  what 
"  I  faid  before,  you  would  not  have  aflced  me  that 
^'  queftion.       If  they  repent  of  the  fentence  they 
"  have  paCfed  upon  me,  let  them  fhew  it  by  their 
"  works."     Being  afked  in  what  manner,  he  faid, 
"  let  them  do  penance  for  the  fin  they  have  com- 
•'  mitted."     Being  farther  infulted,  he  replied  that 
he  had  nothing  to  anfwer  to  mere  abufe. 

The  bifliops  of  his  party  being  then  introduced, 
and  required  to  fubmit  to  the  decifion  of  the  Ro^ 
man  pontiff,  tliey  all  anfwered  wiih  great  firmnefs, 
John  bifhop  of  Heraclea  faid,    pointing  to  Pho- 

P  3  tius^ 


ft3Q»  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XV  I. 

tlus,  ''  Whoever  fhall  anathematize  that  bifhop,  let 
*'  him  be  anathema."  Zacharias  of  Chalcedom, 
faid,  "  We  will  not  obey  what  is  contrary  to  reafon. 
f  We  fee  how  things  have  been  conduced."  Eu- 
fchemon  of  Caefaiea  in  Cappadocia  faid,  "  With 
*'  refpeft  to  what  is  contrary  to  reafon,  and  the 
*'  canons,  let  it  come  from  Rome,  from  Jerufa- 
*'  lem,  or  any  angel  from  heaven,  I  will  not  obey 
*'  it."  Being  alked  what  they  could  fay  againfl 
the  decifion  ot  all  the  patriarchal  fees,  they  laid, 
**  The  authority  of  the  jpoftles  and  the  councils. 
«'  We  have  demai.ded  liberty  to  explain  our  con- 
*'  dut},  but  have  not  obtained  it."  Refufing  to 
fubmit  to  the  judgment  of  the  council,  an  anathe- 
ma was  pronounced  againll  Photius  and  all  hi« 
adherents. 

In  the  eighth  leffion  they  publickly  burned  all 
the  fubfcnptions  in  favour  of  Photius  by  bifliops  or 
other  perfons,  together  with  all  his  writings  againft 
pope  Nicolas,  and  the  a6ls  of  his  council  againft 
Ignatius.  Alter  this  they  who  had  been  fent  by 
Photius  to  Rome,  as  legates  from  the  other  pa- 
triarchal fees,  being  introduced,  denied  that  they 
had  any  power  to  alfume  the  charafter  of  legates, 
and  pronounced  an  anathema  againft  thofe  who 
had  any  concern  in  that  embaffy,  or  who  had  op^ 
pofed  pope  Nicolas.  The  metropolitans  alfo  de- 
nied 


&EC.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH/  ?n 

nied  their  fubfcription  to  the  writing  that  was  then 
fent  to  Rome. 

In  the  ninth  feffion  a  Icjate  from  the  patriarch 
©f  Alexandria  attended  ;     biU  protefT.ng  his  ignor- 
ance of  the  merits  of  the  qucftion  between  the  two 
patriarchs,  he  referred  the   decifion  to   thofe  who 
were    better    quaUfied  to  judge.        Being  aiked 
whether  he   had  been  informed  of  what  had   been 
done  in  the  eigth  preceding  fedions,     he   faid  that 
he  had,    and  that  he  was  fatisfied  with  it.      After 
this   fome  perfons  were  examined  who  confeffed 
that  they  had  been  forced  to  acknowledge  Photius, 
and  condemn  Ignatius, 

In  the  la  ft  feffion,    held  February  12th   a.  d. 
870,    the    emperor     being    prefent,    ambaffadors 
from  the   pope    and   the     emperor  of  the  Weft 
iijtreated  the  fuccour  of  Bafilius  againft  the  Sara- 
cens in  Italy.     An  hundred  bifliops  were  then  pre- 
fent,   and  they  recited  and  confirmed  all  that  had 
been  done  in  the  preceding  feffions.   Among  other 
things,  they  decreed  that  they  who  had  been  ana- 
thematized in  this  council  fhould  be  forbidden  to 
pra6lice  painting,  or  to  teach  the  fciences.       The 
former  refpe8:ed  Gregory  of  Syracufe,  who  was  a 
painter,  and  the  fecond  Photius  himfelf,  who  had 
taught  with  great  reputation,    and  whole  difciples 
were  much  attached  to  him.      They  aifo  decreed 


5t3a  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI. 

that  for  the  future  no  perfon  fhould  publifli  any 
writings  againft  the  pope,  as  Photius  had  done. 

After  the  canons  of  the  council,  they  reCited 
aconfeflion  of  faith,  with  ana.hemas  againft  here- 
tics, particularly  the  Monothelites,  among  whom 
pope  Honorius  was  not  forgo- ten,  and  alfo  againft 
the  Iconoclafts,  They  declared  their  approbation 
(of  the  feven  general  councils,  and  cal!ed  this  the 
eighth.  A  fpecch  ivas  then  made  in  the  name  of 
the  emperor,  exhorting  to  peace  and  fubmiffion. 
In  it  he  faid,  •'  As  to  the  laity,  whatever  be  their 
*'  dignity,  they  mud  not  difpute  about  ecclefiaftical 
*'  matters,  fmce  that  belongs  to  the  bifhops. 
Whatever  fcience  or  virtue  a  layman  be  pofleffed 
of,  he  IS  but  one  of  the  fheep,  and  how  little  fo- 
^^  ever  be  the  merit  of  a  bifhop,  he  is  always  the 
*'  fhcpherd,  while  he  teaches  the  truth.  Take  care 
*'  then  how  you  judge  your  judges,  and  live  in 
*'  fubje£l:ion  to  them." 

The  emperor  then  figned  the  decrees  of  tht 
council  after  the  legates  from  Rome,  who  did  it 
with  a  refervation  for  the  ratification  of  the  pope. 
The  bifhops  who  attended  never  exceeded  on« 
hundred  and  two,  the  fmallnefs  of  which  number 
is  accounted  for  by  the  many  depofitions  made  by 
Pholius,  and  the  fees  not  having  been  fupplied. 
Jt  is  faid  that  the  decrees  of  this  council  were  figned 
with  ink  mixed  with  wine  from  the  eucharifl. 

Among 


gic.I.       THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  23s 

Among  the  letters  written  in  the  name  of  this 
council  was  one  in  which  was  implied  the  fub- 
jeftton  of  the  church  of  Conflantinople  to  that  of 
Rome.  This  the  Greeks  Wifhed  to  have  with* 
drawn,  and  with  the  confent  of  the  emperor  it  was 
taken  from  the  copies  that  v/ere  in  the  cuftody  of 
the  legates.  Bui  the  trick  being  difcovered  and 
the  emperor  n-  t  chufing  to  have  an  open  quarrej 
with  them,  all,  the  papers  were  reftored. 

Photius  was  far  from  being  deprefied  by  tjie 
decrees  of  this  council,  tho'  in  his  confinement  he 
was  denied  the  ufe  of  books,  and  the  attendance  of 
a  phyfician  when  he  was  lick;  on  which  he  ex- 
poflulated  with  the  emperor,  in  a  letter  that  he 
wrote  to  him.  In  his  letters  to  his  friends  he  re-^ 
prefented  himfelf  as  a  perfon  oppreCfed  by  power^ 
^s  Jefus  Chrifi:  was  before  him,  and  exhorted  them 
to  fubmit  to  the  myllerious  difpenfations  of  provi-» 
dence.  AH  his  letters  on  this  occafion  are  written 
with  peculiar  fpirit  and  dignity.  In  that  to  th« 
emperor,  in  which  he  complains  of  his  harlh  treat- 
ment, unprecedented  on  fuch  occalions,  he  afked 
either  relief  Irom  his  mifery,  or  a  fpeedy  death.  In 
many  of  his  letters  he  boafls  of  the  number  and 
firmnefs  of  his  friends,  and  that,  in  fo  great  a  florm, 
not  a  fingle  bifliop,  even  of  the  mod  obfcure  viU 
lage,  neither  the  learned  nor  the  ignorant,  had  de- 
ferted  him.     And  in  fa6l  they  were  only  a  hundred 

P  5  bifhops, 


/ 


S34  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVI. 

biOiops,  all  of  whom  had  been  ordained  by  Me- 
thodius or  Ignatius,  who  had  fubfcribed  to  this 
council.  All  who  had  been  ordained  by  Photius, 
and  they  were  more  than  three  hundred,  ftiil  ad- 
hered to  hirri. 

Notwithftanding  this  feeming  cordiality  be- 
tween the  two  churches,  there  remained  a  bone  of 
contention  between  them  in  Bulgaria,  the  jurifr 
diftion  of  which  was  claimed  by  them  both.  Pope 
John  VIII  even  threatened  Ignatius,  tho'  replaced 
on  the  fee  of  Conftantinople  with  the  concurrence 
and  affiftance  of  his  predecelTors,  that  if  he  did  not 
withdraw  his  bifhops  and  clergy  from  Bulgaria, 
and  renounce  ail  jurifdiftion  over  it  within  two 
months,  he  would  excommunicate  and  depofe 
him.  He  alfo  wrote  to  the  king  of  Bulgaria  in  a. 
D.  879,  exhorting  him  to  return  to  the  obedience 
of  the  fee  of  Rome,  and  to  receive  a  legate  that  he 
would  fend  to  him.  At  the  fame  time  he  wrote  to 
the  clergy  of  Salonae,  that  church  being  then  va- 
cant, and  to  the  bifhops  of  Dalmatia,  ordering 
them  on  pain  of  excommunication  to  fend  the  per- 
fon  whom  they  fhould  chufe  for  archbifhop  to  re- 
ceive confecration  and  the  pallium  from  him,  with- 
out regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Greeks. 

Photius  after  being  depofed  eight  years  con- 
trived, as  it  is  faid  by  means  of  forged  books,  con- 
taining a  flattering  genealogy  of  the  emperor,    to 

get 


$£C.I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  «3ir 

get  into  his  favour,  and  attend  his  perfon.  He 
was  even  permitted  to  refume  his  epifcopal 
fundlions,  and  ordained  fome  perfons  in  the  life 
time  of  Ignatius  ;  and  on  his  death,  in  a.  d.  879, 
he  was  reinflated  in  the  dignity  of  patriarch; 
when  he  immediately  trnpio)  ed  hi'  power  in  ad- 
vancing his  friends  a  d  dcprelTr-g  his  enemies, 
reftoring  the  bifli'-ps  who  had  been  depofed  by 
lanatius,  and  depofing,  or  reordaining,  thofe  who 
had  been  ordained  by  him.  He  even  prevailed 
upon  the  legates,  who  had  been  fent  by  the  pope 
on  the  bniinefs  of  the  Bulgarians,  to  communicate 

witli  him. 

The  fituation  of  the  pope  himfelf  was  now  fuch 
as  difpofed  him  to  gratify  the  emperor,  and  con fe- 
quently  Phof.us.  He  wanted  the  aid  of  the  power$ 
pfthe  Eall  for  the  relief  of  Italy,  Rome  itfeif  being 
threatened  by  the  Saracens.  He  therefore  received 
in  the  rnoll  favourable  manner  the  letters  of  Pho- 
^ius,  and  as  Fleury  fays,  againft  all  the  rules  of 
difcipline,  and  the  example  of  his  predecelTors, 
confented  to  acknowled-e  him  as  lawful  patriarch 
of  Conflantinop'e,  excufing  himfelf  on  the  plea  of 
neceffity.  and  of  his  being  rec«.ived  by  the  patriarchs 
of  the  other  oriental  fees  on  condition  that  he 
fhould  afb pardon  in  council,  and  refign  his  pre- 
tenhons  to  the  province  of  Bulgaria.  On  thele 
terms  he  faid  that,  by  the  authority  of  the  apoftolic 

fee, 


255  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XVI. 

fee,  he  would  abfolve  him  from  all  eccleliaftical 
cenfures.  In  his  inftrudions  to  the  legates  that  he 
i^nt  to  Conftantinople,  he  bade  them  deliver  his 
letters  to  "  the  mofl  holy  Photius,"  faying,  "Pope 
*'  John  our  mafter  falutes  you,  and  wiflies  to  have 
**  you  for  a  brother  and  a  colleague."  He  alfo 
expreffed  his  wilh  that  the  councils  held  againft 
Photius  under  pope  Adrian,  as  well  that  in  Rome, 
or  that  in  Conftantinople,  fhould  be  declared  null, 
and  not  be  reckoned  among  the  councils.  This 
letter  was  like  wife  fubfcribed  by  the  bifhops  who 
affifted  at  the  council  in  Rome. 

After  thefe  preliminaries,  Photius,  being  rein- 
ftated  in  his  dignity,  fummoned  a  council  at  Con- 
ftantinople to  meet  in  November  a.  d.  879,  and 
it  was  attended  by  three  hundred  and  eighty  biftiops, 
tbe  legate  from  the  fee  ol  Jerufalem,  the  two  legates 
from  Rome  who  had  been  fent  in  the  tinie  ot  Igna- 
tius, and  cardinal  Peter,  who  had  brought  the  let- 
ters of  the  pope  to  Piio'ius.  After  fome  others 
had  fpoken,  this  cardinal  rofe,  and  faid,  "  Pope 
«'  John  is  willing  to  confider  Photius  as  a  brother, 
««  and  as  his  own  foul ;"  and  then  delivered  the 
prefents  which  the  pope  had  fent,  confiding  of  pon- 
tifical habits,  a  pallium,  and  fandals,  which  the 
legates  difplayed  before  the  council ;  and  nothing 
was  faid  of  the  terms  on  which  the  pope  had  faid 
that  he  confentcd  to   the  reconciliation,   viz.  his 

afking 


Sec.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHY       i^f 

afking  pardon  before  the  council;  which,  fays  Fleu- 
ry,  was  apparently  done  with  the  conferit  of  the 
legates,  as  they  made  no  complaint  on  the  fub- 
jed.  The  pope's  letters  being  read  with  this  fup- 
preffion,  the  cardinal  faid,  «' Do  you  receive  thefe 
*'  letters  ?"  They  anfwered,  "  We  receive  all  thaf 
*'  relates  to  the  union  with  Photius,  and  the  interefl: 
*'  of  the  church,  but  not  that  which  relates  to  the 
"  emperor,  and  his  provinces  ;*'  meaning  the  claim 
of  the  pope  to  the  fuperintendence  of  Bulgaria. 
The  pope's  letter  to  Photius  being  then  read  with 
the  fame  fuppreffion,  he  acknowledged  that  he 
was  fatisfied  with  it. 

When  the  cardinal  faid  that  their  inflru£lion3 
required  them  to  demand  the  jurifdiftion  of  Bul- 
garia, Photius  replied,  that  he  had  always  been  a 
lover  of  peace,  and  that  he  had  made  no  ordina- 
tion in  Bulgaria  fince  his  reftoration.  He  added 
other  things,  but  they  were  only  general  expref* 
fions,  which  did  not  bind  him  to  any  thing.  In 
giving  an  account  of  his  condu6t  with  refpefl  to 
the  patriarchate,  he  declared  that,  from  the  begin- 
ning, it  had  been  forced  upon  him  ;  that  when  h@ 
was  expelled  he  had  yielded  to  the  violence,  with- 
out making  any  attempt  to  raife  a  fedition ;  tha£ 
after  his  reftoration  to  the  favour  of  the  emperor, 
he  had  lived  on  the  beft  terms  with  Ignatius,  had 
vifited  him  in  his  licknefs,  and  taken  into  his  pro- 

te6lion 


*i58  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI; 

teftion  the  perfons  he  had  recommended  to  him ; 
land  that  after  this  it  was  at  the  preffing  requeft  of 
the  emperor,  and  all  the  clergy,  that  he  had  re- 
fumed  h's  fee.  To  all  this  the  bifhops  afllmb'ed 
in  council  unanimoufly  declared  that  it  was  true. 

In  this  feffion,  which  was  the  fecortd,  letter* 
from  the  patriarchs  of  Alexandria,  Jerufalem,  and 
Aiitioch,  were  read,  all  of  them  expreffing  their 
fatisfadion  in  the  reftoration  of  Photius  ;  and  the 
perfons  who  had  appeared  as  legates  frorri  thofe  fees, 
at  the  preceding  council  v/ere  faid  to  have  been 
perfons  fent  by  the  Saracens,  or  with  their  confent, 
to  treat  of  the  redemptioh  of  captives,  and  only 
.pretended  that  they  were  legates.  After  reading 
the  pope's  letters  abrogating  the  council  againft 
Photius,  they  faid,  "  We  have  already  abiogated, 
*'  reje6led,  and  anathematized  that  pretended  couri- 
"  cili  and  we  anathematize  all  who  do  not  rejeft 
««  it."  "  And  how,"  faid  Ellas,  the  metropoli- 
tan of  Martyropolis,  and  alfo  Elias  t'^e  legate  from 
the  fee  of  Jerufalem,  *'  can  that  be  called  a  coun- 
''  oil,  which  has  filled  the  church  with  fo  many 
*'  fchifms,  where  deputies  from  the  Saracens  fat  a« 
"  judges,  the  decrees  of  which  are  contrary  to  thofe 
*'  of  all  other  councils,  which  has  condemned  the 

"  innocent  without  examination,    and  overturned 

*'  all  laws  ecclefiaftical  and  Civil.". 

In 


Sid.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHtTRCH.         ^5^ 

In  the  fourth  feffion  a  legate  from  the  patriarcli 
of  Antioch  attended,  with  letters  from  him,  and 
alfo  from  the  new  patriarch  of  Jerufalem,  the  pre- 
ceding having  been  dead,  declaring  that  neithet 
of  them  had  had  any  thing  to  do  with  the  pr.  ceed- 
ings  againft  Photius.  *'  We  know,"  they  faicJ, 
*'  that  the  fees  of  the  Eaft  have  always  acknow- 
"  ledged  him,"  "  This  unanimity,"  faid  Elias  oi 
Jerufalem,  "  comes  from  heaven." 

In  this  feffion  the  diflPerent  articles  of  the  pope's 
demands  being  confidered,  they  referred  the  bu^ 
finefs  of  Bulgaria  to  the  emperor,  and  would  not 
conf6nt  to  any  obligation  to  raife  none  but  of  the 
clergy  to  the  patriarchate ;  faying  that  this  had  ne- 
ver been  a  rule  with  the  churches  in  the  Eaft, 
*'  We  ought  to  be  at  liberty,'*  they  faid,  "  to  fol- 
*'  low  our  own  peculiar  cuftoms,  as  the  people 
*'  of  Rome  are  to  follow  theirs."  But  they  heartily- 
concurred  in  condemning  all  that  had  been  don® 
or  written  againft  Photius,  and  in  excommuniw 
eating  all  who  would  not  acknowledge  him.  At 
the  clofe  of  this  feffion,  at  the  propofal  of  cardinal 
Peter,  and  as  a  token  ot  their  perfeft  harmony, 
the  time  for  divine  fervice  being  near,  they  all  re- 
ceived the  eucharift  at  the  hands  of  Photius. 

At  the  fifth  feffion,  held  in  January  a.  d.  880, 
they  voted  the  fecond  council  of  Nice  to  be   the 
feventh  oecumenical  one,  and  pronounced  an  ana- 
thema 


^il|  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVI. 

thema  upon  thofe  who  did  not  acknowledge  it  td 
be  fuch.  They  alfo  voted  that  all  who  were  txi- 
communicated  by  the  pope  fhould  be  held  excpuv- 
municated  by  Photius,  and  that  all  who  wereex^ 
communicated  by  Photius  ftiould  be  fo  by  th^ 
pope; 

Among  the  canoiiis  of  this  council,  »here  Was 
one  to  anathematize  thofe  laymen  who  fhouid 
ftrike  or  imprifon  a  bifhop.    . 

In  the  fixth  feffion  the  empetor  himfelf  pre- 
fided,  and  propofed  that  they  fhould  all  agree  in 
a  confeffion  of  faith  ;  and  they  all  confehted,  e- 
ven  the  legates  from  Rome,  tho*  it  was  made  with 
a  view  to  cenfure  the  addition  of  the  w  ords  Ji  Ho  que 
to  the  creed.  It  was  accordingly  declared  that 
they  received  the  feven  general  councils,  without 
taking  from  them,  adding  to  them,  or  making 
any  alterations  in  them  ;  faying,  "  If  any  perfon 
*'  is  fo  bold  as  to  compofe  another  confeflion  of 
**  faith,  or  alter  this  by  ftrange  words,  additions, 
*'  or  lubtraftions,  we  depofe  him  if  he  be  of  the 
*'  clergy,  and  we  anathematize  him  if  he  be  a  lay- 
"  man."  When  they  had  done  this,  the  emperor 
and  his  three  fons  figned  the  decrees  of  the  coun- 
cil. 

The  lafl  feflion  of  this  council  was  held  in  the 
church  of  St.  Sophia,  on  the  13th  of  March,  when, 

after 


Stc.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  24i 

after  reciting  every  thing  that  had  been  agreed  up- 
on, the  pope's  legates  faid,  "  If  any  per  on  do  not 
*•  receive  Photius  as  patriarch,  and  communicate 
"  with  him,  let  his  lot  be  with  Judas,  and  let  him 
"  not  be  acknowledged  as  a  chriflian."  They  broke 
up  with  the  ufual  acclamations,  the  laft  of  which 
were,  "  long  life  to  the  patriarch  Photius,  and 
"  to  John." 

After  this  the  pope,  writing  to  Photius  on  the 
fubjeft  of  the  addition  to  the  creed,  faid  that  he 
confideredit  in  the  fame  light  that  he  did,  viz.  as  a 
corruption  of  the  do6lnne  of  Jefus  Chrift,  but  he 
wiftied  not  to  compel  any  perfon  to  abandon  that 
addition  if  they  had  been  ufed  to  make  it,  but  to 
ufe  mildnefs  and  addrefs,  exhorting  them  by  de- 
grees to  renounce  that  blafphemy.  Indeed,  this 
addition,  as  has  been  obferved,  had  not  its  origin 
at  Rome,  but  in  the  churches  of  Spain. 

As  to  the  facility  with  which  the  bifliops  of 
Jerufalem,  Antioch,  and  Alexandria,  took  their 
part  for  or  againft  Photius,  Fleury  fays  it  may  be 
eafily  accounted  for  from  their  poverty  and  abje6fc 
condition;  being  ready  to  join  with  any  who, 
having  the  moft  power,  had  the  mofl  to  give. 
But  certainly  the  hiltory  of  thefe  two  councils 
proves  the  fame  with  refpedl  to  the  bifhops  in  gene- 
ral, and  all  the  councils  which  were'  compofed  of 
them. 

V©L.  III.  Q  Xh(? 


242  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVt. 

The  pope,  on  receiving  the  decrees  of  this 
council,  approved  of  them  ;  and  writing  to  the  em- 
peror, thanked  him  for  the  fuccour  which  he  had 
given  him  againfl  the  Saracens,  and  his  furrendet 
of  the  jurifdiftion  of  Bulgaria;  hoping,  as  may 
be  fuppofed,  that  he  would  make  no  difficulty  of 
it.  He  added,  "  We  receive  the  council  of  Con- 
*'  llantinople  for  the  reftoration  of  Photius  to  the 
*'  patriarchate  ;  but  if  our  legates  have  done  any 
*'  thing  contrary  to  our  orders,  we  do  not  receive 
*'  it." 

The  hillory  ot  this  affair  is  certainly  no  argu- 
ment for  the  infallibity  of  the  Roman  pontifs,  and 
much  lefs  is  what  prefently  followed  what  I  have 
recited.  P'or  pope  Martin  and  Adrian  III,  find- 
ing that  the  emperor  and  Photius  did  not  intend 
to  give  up  the  jurifdiflion  of  Bulgaria,  not  think- 
ing themfelves  obliged  to  confirm  what  had  been 
done  by  their  predecefTors,  condemned  Photius  as 
an  intruder ;  and  in  return  he  wrote  a  violent  let- 
ter againfl  the  Latins  on  the  fubje6l  of  the  procef- 
fion  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  faying  that  both  pope 
Leo  the  Great,  and  Leo  III  held  this  proceffion 
to  be  from  the  Father  only.  The  emperor,  of- 
fended at  the  conduft  of  thofe  p^pes,  wrote  a  pro- 
voking letter  addrelFed  to  Adrian,  but  received  by 
Stephen  who  had  fucceeded  him.  He  replied  to 
it,    and  faid  that  the  city  ot    Conftantinople  wa's 

without 


tic.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  243 

Without  a  patriarch  ;  confidering  Photius  as  an 
ufurper,  notwithftanding  his  folemn  refloration 
with  the  hearty  concurrence  of  his  predeceffors. 

There  was  not,  however,  any  more  uniformi- 
ty of  conduft  in  the  Eaft  than  in  the  Wefl  For 
Leo  VI,  furnamed  the  Philofopher,  fucceeding  his 
father  Balilius,  in  the  firfi  year  of  his  reign  banifh- 
ed  Photius,  and  fent  him  to  a  monaftery  in  Ar- 
menia, where  he  Toon  after  died.  The  caufe  of 
this  was  that  the  emperor  fufpefted  him  of  a  defign 
to  raife  a  relation  of  his  own  to  the  empire.  Tho', 
however,  he  concurred  with  the  pope  in  his  con- 
demnation of  Photius,  he  wrote  to  him  to  requeft 
that  he  would  rellore  thofe  of  the  clergy  who  had 
been  ordained  by  Photius.  In  anfwer  to  this, 
pope  Formofus  faid  he  would  pardon  them  on  their 
repentance,  but  that  they  fhould  only  be  confi- 
dered  as  laymen.  It  does  not  appear  that  any 
thing  was  done  in  confequence  of  this  ;  and  from 
this  time  the  two  churches  had  but  little  intercourfe; 
tho'  at  a  council  held  at  Conflantinople,  in  a.  d, 
920,  in  which  fourth  marriages  were  condemned, 
the  emperor  Conflantine  Porphyroganita  fent  to 
the  pope  to  requeft  the  concurrence  of  the  La  an 
church,  and  renew  the  intercourfe  that  had  former- 
ly fubfifted  between  them,  and  which  he  faid  had 
been  unhappily  interrupted. 


244  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XVI. 

It  may  not  be  improper,    before  I   clofe  this 
fubjetl,  to  mention  all  the  points  of  difference  be- 
tween the  Greek  and  Latin  churches,    as  they  are 
enumerated  by  Photius,  and  fhew  the  flrefs  that  he 
laid  upon  them.    In  the  firll  place,  he  fays,  "  they 
*'  fafl  on  faturdays,    tho'  the  lead  contempt  of  the 
"  traditions  tends  to  overturn  all  religion.     More- 
*'  over,,  they  take  from  Lent  the  firll  week,    per- 
*'  mitting  to  eat    milk,     meat,    and  cheefe  in    it. 
"  Following  the  errors  of  Manes,    they   have    an 
*'  averfion  to   priefts  engaged  in   lawful  marriage. 
*'  They  repeat  the  un6lion  of  chrifm  when  it  has 
"  been  adminiftered  by  priefts ;  faying  that  bifhops 
"  only  are  empowered  to  adminifter  it.      But  ihe 
*'  height  of  their  impiety  is  their  daring  to  add  new 
*'  words  to  the  facred  fymbol,    authorized  by  all 
*'  the  councils,    faying  that  the  Holy  Spirit  does 
"  not  proceed  from  the  Father  only,  but  alfo  from 
"  the    Son.        After  this,"     he    fays,      "  it   is  in 
««  vain   to   pretend   to    be    Chsiftians.     This,    is 
"  admitting  two  principles  in    the    trinity,    and 
"  confounding  the  properties  of  the  divine  perfons/' 

Fleury  Vol.  II.  p.  133. 

Pope  Nicolas  having  received  a  letter  from 
Photius,  containing  thefe  accufations  cf  the  Latin 
church,  communicated  it  to  Hincraar,  the  learned 
archbiftiop  of  Rheims ;  and  he  required  the  bifhops 
who  were  under  him  to  write  their  thoughts  on  the 

fub- 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  U$ 

fubjefts,  and  there  are  now  extant  two  of  thofe 
treatifes,  one  written  by  Eneas  bifhop  of  Paris,  and 
the  other  by  Ratram  a  monk  of  Corbie.  In  this 
work  Ratram  fays,  "  If  by  the  Holy  Spirit  being 
*«  fent  by  the  Son,  a  procejfion  be  not  meant,  it 
«'  mull  be  difervice,  and  then  the  Holy  Spirit  will 
*'  be  inferior  to  the  Son,  which  is  Arianifm.  What," 
fays  he,  "  is  h  that  the  Holy  Spirit  can  take  frum 
♦•  the  Son,  if  it  be  not  his  fubftance  ?" 

This,  however,  was  not  the  firft  time  that  this 
curious  queftion  was  confidered  in  the  Latin 
church.  In  A.  d.  809,  in  a  council  held  at  Aix 
la  Chapelle  in  the  prefence  of  Charlemagne,  this 
queftion  about  the  proceffion  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  formally  difcuffed ;  and  in  order  to  have  it  de- 
cided "his  emperor  fent  an  embafly  to  pope  Leo, 
v/ith  a  treatife  written  by  Smaragdus  abbot  of  St. 
Michael,  to  prove  the  proceffion  of  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit to  be  from  the  Son,  as  well  as  from  the  Father. 
To  this  do6liine  the  pope  gave  his  affent.  But 
when  he  was  farther  urged  to  fay  whether  a  man 
who  did  not  believe  it  could  be  faved,  he  feemed 
unwilling  to  go  fo  far ;  but  acknowledged  that  if 
a  man  could  uuderftand  it,  and  would  not  believe 
it,  he  could  not  be  faved.  He  would  not,  how- 
ever, allow  any  new  claufe  to  be  added  to  the 
creedc  Notwithftandingthis,  in  France  and  Spain, 

Q  3  'th9 


Uii  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI*. 

the  creed  was  read  with  this  addition,  and  in  Rome, 
V^ilhout  it. 


SECTION  II. 

The  Sequel  of  the  Ilijlory  of  Im-agc-worjii^. 


T 


IIKRE  is  liardly  any  thing  in  th«5 
whole  compafs  of  church  hiftory  that  demon- 
flratfs  more  clearly  the  decifive  influence  of  the 
imperial  authority  in  ecclifiaflical  matters,  thar^ 
the  whole  of  this  controverfy  relating  to  the  wor- 
fliip  of  images ;  the  decrees  of  the  church  con- 
ftantly  changing  with  the  dilpohtion  of  the  court. 
In  the  time  ot  Irene  the  woiihip  of  images  was 
mofl  folemnly  enabliflicd.  But  Niccphorus,  who 
depofed  and  baniflicd  lier,  was  no  friend  to  that 
fuperftition,  tho'  he  did  not  chufe  to  do  any  thing 
with  refpe6l  to  it.  His  rucccffor  Michael  Curo- 
polates  favoured  the  worfliip  of  images,  and  perfc- 
putcd  thofc  who  oppol'ed  it. 

On  the  contrary,  Leo  the  Armenian  was  a  vior 
lent  Iconof.lalf,  and  confidcred  the  fubjcrtion  of 
fhe  Chriilians  to  the  Saracens  as  owing  to  theiv 
fuperflition  and  ihe  idolatry  of  image  worfliip,  and 
faid  th.it  all  the  preceding  emperors,  who  were  qf 
\\u%  fed,    had  died  violent  deaths  :     but   the   reft 

peacc-j 


Sec.  II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  M7 

peaceably  in  their  beds.      IIj  had,  however,  miicli 
oppofitiou  from  iiu-  ^j.itrarch  Niccphoriis,  aud  the 
liionks  ;    and  tho'  he  had  a  conference  with  them 
on  the  fubjofl,   it  was  to  no  purpofc.       Niccpho- 
rus,    not  yicidiijL5  to  the  emperor,     tound  hiniCeil' 
obhtjed   to  abdicate  the  patriarchate,    and  he  was 
condutlcd  to  a  monallery.     Theodorus  who  fuc- 
ceeded   him  was  an  iconoclafl  like   the  enipcror, 
and  confequently  the  images  were  every  where  dc- 
molilhed.      In  oppolition  to  this,   Theodore  Stu- 
dites,  at  the  head  ot  his  monks,    carried  them  in  a 
folemnproceflion  on  a  Whitfunday,  hnging  hymns 
in  honour  of  them.       Being  invited  to   attend  a 
pouncii  which  the  etnperor  called,     he  refufed    tu 
go,    knowing  the  dehgn  of  it,    and  rcmonllrated, 
again fl  it. 

The  (irrt  ihini.'-  that  was  done  in  this  council 
was  to  conlirm  that  which  had  been  held  by  Con- 
(lantine  Copronymus  agaiidl  the  worfhip  ol  images, 
and  to -anathematize  the  fubfeqiient  one  of  Nice. 
This  was  done  with  perfeCl;  unanimity  by  all  who 
attended ;  but  fome  bilhops  and  abbots  being  in- 
troduced, arid  refuhng  to  con  lent  to  what  had  been 
done,  they  were  infulted,  and  lent  to  prifon ;  and 
the  council  was  doled  with  acclamations  in  the 
ufual  maimer. 

Agreeable  to  the  orders  of  this  council,  images 
were  again  removcd.from  the  churches,  and  among- 

O  4  the 


248  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVIP 

the  many  abbots  and  others  who  were  banifhed  fo? 
adhering  to  the  late  doftrine,     Theodore  Studites 
was  not  forgotten.        He  was   fent    to    the    caftie 
of  Metopus  near  Apollonia,    where  he   continued 
to  write  and  encourage  his  friends. 

Tn  this  perf.cution  of  the  worfhippers  of  images, 
Nicetas  and  Theodore  Studita,  were  not  to  be 
moved  by  the  harfheft  treatment,  nor  could  they 
be  prevailed  upon  to  communicate  with  the  Icono- 
clafts.  Theodore  applied  to  the  pope,  imploring 
his  affiftance.  He  alfo  wrote  very  moving  letters 
to  the  patriarchs  of  Jerufakm,  Antioch,  and 
Alexaiidiia,  begging  their  prayers,  and  their  com- 
pafiion.  The  patriarch  of  Jerufalem  fent  two 
monks  to  Conftantinople  ;  but  on  their  remonftrat- 
ing  with  too  much  freedom  to  the  emperor,  they 
were  banifhed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Danube.  Pope 
Pafcal  fent  letters  and  a  legate  to  Conftantinople, 
but  without  any  effed.  However,  he  provided  a 
monaftery  for  the  Greek  refugees  at  Rome. 

The  ftrefs  which  thefe  rigid  adherents  to  the 
worfhip  of  images  laid  on  their  do6lrine  and  prac- 
tice appears,  at  this  dillance  of  time,  not  a  little 
extraordinary  -,  but  our  furprize  is  lelTened  by  the 
conlideration  that  they  wrote,  in  a  time  of  perfe- 
cution,  and  confequently  of  great  irritation.  Theo- 
dore Studita,  writing  about  the  reception  of  pe- 
nitents,   fays,    '-  tliey  were  lo  be  received  not   as 

"  thofe 


Sec.  II.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         U9 

"  thofe  who  had  fallen  into  a  herefy,  but  as  thofo 
"  who  had  denied  Chiift ;  for,  as  Bafil  fays,  the 
^*  renouncing  of  the  images,  goes  to  the  original, 
^  It  is  not  lawful,"  he  fays,  **  to  cat  with  the  he- 
"  retics,  not  even  in  cafe  of  neceflity,  nor  with  the 
"  Catholics  themfclves  who  commi'nicate  with 
"  them,  except  once  or  twice,  and  that  through 
•'  neceflity.  It  is  not  lawful,"  he  fays,  *•  to  falute 
"  heretics,  or  receive  their  gifts." 

This  pcrfecution  ended  with  the  life  of  the  em- 
peror Leo,  and  (he  acceflion  of  Michael  the  Stam- 
merer, in  A.  D.  820.  Michael  recalled  the  exiles, 
and  tho'  no  worfhipper  of  images  himfelf,  he  al- 
lowed other  perfons  to  do  as  they  thought  proper 
in  th  tt  refp.  61.  This  emperor,  preffed  by  his  ene- 
mies, and  fearing  left  the  worfhippers  of  images 
fliould  turn  againft  him,  propofed  a  conference 
between  the  two  parties.  But  Theodore  and  his 
brethren  abfolutely  refufed  it ;  faying,  it  belonged 
-to  the  bilhops  of  the  apoftolic  fees,  the  chief  of 
which  was  that  of  Rome,  to  decide  concerning  th« 
faith. 

After  the  civil  war,  in  which  Michael  was  en- 
gaged, was  over,  this  emperor  fent  embalfadors  to 
Lewis  the  Weftern  emperor,  giving  him  an  ac- 
count of  the  worChip  of  images  in  the  Eaft,  parti- 
cularly complaining  of  fome  grofs  and  ridiculous 
fuperftitions  which  hs  faid  had  induced  him,  and 

Q  5  other 


j?50  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI, 

Other  emperors,  to  remove  the  images  from  a  lower 
to  a  higher  fituation  in  the  churches,  where  they 
might  ferve  for  the  inftruftion  of  the  people,  with- 
out being  the  objects  of  fuch  abufe.  "  They  re- 
moved the  crofles,"  he  fays,  "  from  the  churches, 
and  put  images  in  their  places  ;  and  before  thefe 
images  they  lighted  lamps,  and  burned  incenfe, 
paying  them  honour  as  to  the  crolTes.  They 
alfo  fing  hymns  before  thefe  images,  adore  them, 
and  implore  their  affiftance.  Several  perfons 
put  clothes  upon  them,  and  make  them  god- 
fathers and  godmothers  to  their  children ;  they 
put  upon  them  the  firft  hair  they  cut  from  their 
heads,  or  offer  their  hair  to  them  when  they  take 
the  monaftic  habit.  Some  priefls  (crape  colours 
from  the  piflures,  and  mix  them  with  the  elements 
of  the  eucharift,  or  firft  put  the  elements  into  ^ 
the  hands  of  the  images,  and  then  give  them  in- 
to the  hands  of  the  communicants  ;  and  others 
take  boards  on  which  are  the  pi6lures  of  fome 
faints,  and  make  ufe  of  them  tor  altars  in  private 
houfes."  This  letter  ftiews  the  good  fenfe  of  the 
emperor,  as  well  as  the  ridiculous  folly  of  the 
mes,  which,  without  hiftorical  evidence,  would 
indeed  be  incredible. 

On  receiving  this  letter  Lewis  applied  to  th<^ 
pope,  requefting  that  an  alTembly  of  bifhops  might 
reexamine  the  bufinefs  of  images ;    and  the  pope^ 

who 


gEC.  II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  a5l 

who  was  then  Eugenios,  confenting,  feveral  bifhops 
were  ordered  to  meet  at  Paris  in  November  a.  d, 
825,  none  being  abfent  but  the  bifhop  of  Autun, 
who  was  detained  by  illnefs.  In  this  affembly,  af- 
ter reading  the  letter  of  pope  Adrian  to  Conflan- 
tine  and  Irene,  the  Caroline  books,  and  Adrian's 
anfwer  to  them,  which  they  did  not  think  fatisfac- 
tory,  they  came  to  a  refolution  fimilar  to  that  of 
the  council  ot  Frankfort,  approving  of  the  ufe  of 
images,  but  not  for  the  purpofe  of  adoration. 

From  this  council  a  deputation  was  fent  to  the 
pope  with  the  approb  tion  of  Lewis,  requefting 
Jiis  intc-rterence  to  compofe  the  differences  in  the 
Eaft,  by  bringing  the  two  oppofite  parties  to  the 
medium  which  themfelves  obferved.  Agobard 
bifhop  of  Lyons  was  the  mofl  diflinguifhed  of  thofe 
bifhops,  and  is  fuppofed  to  have  drawn  up  the  let- 
ter to  the  pope,  and  others  that  were  written  oa 
this  occ^fion.  Whai:  efFe6l  this  deputation  had 
does  not  appear.  But  it  is  certain,  Fleury  fays, 
that  the  Gallican  church  continued  to  think  and 
a£f;  as  they  then  did  a  long  time,  and  yet  were  ini 
fommunion  with  the  church  of  Rome.  Political 
and  interefted  confiderations  did  not  operate  fo 
powerfully  in  the  Weft  on  this  occafion  as  they  did 
in  the  Eaft,  and  the  minds  of  men  had  never  been 
|q  p?uch  irritated  on  the  fubje6l. 

There 


Q5%  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI, 

There  was,  however,  fome  coniiderable  differ- 
ence of  opinion  on  this  fubje£l  even  in  the  Wefty 
where  the  perfon   who  diftinguifhed    himfelf  the 
moft  by  his   oppofitjon  to  the  worfhip  of  images, 
and  other  abuff^s  of  the  times,  was  Claudius  bifhop 
of  Turin,  adifciple  of  Felixof  Urgela.      He  had 
been  a  prieft  in  the  palace  of  the  emperor  Lewis, 
where  he  ferved  with  great  reputation,    and  was 
!  particularly  eminent  for  his  knowledge  of  the  fcriri- 
tures,  on  many  parts  of  which  he  wrote  commenta- 
ries.    The  emperor,  feeing  that  the  people  of  Ita- 
ly were  very  ignorant,    fent   Claudius  to  inftru6l 
them ;  and  he,  obferving  that  the  people  paid  a 
fuperftitious  refpe<5t  to  images,  removed  them,  and 
alfo  all  the  croffes  that  had  been  erefted  in  his  dio- 
cefe.     He  faid,    in  defence  of  his  condu6l,    that 
«'  when  the  Pagans  transferred  their  worfhip  from 
*•  the  images   of  their  gods  to  thofe   of  the  faints, 
"  they  only  changed  the  names  of  things,    but  did 
«  not  abandon  the  worfhip  of  idols,    fo  that  they 
^'  were  fliU  idolaters ;    and  if  men  mud  be  adored, 
^'  it  were  better  to  worfhip  living  men  than  dead 
*'  ones,  as  they  bore  a  greater  refemblance  to  God." 
He  faid  that,    "  if  the  crofs  was  to  be  worfhipped 
*'  becaufe  Chrift  hung  upon  it,  every  thing  alfo 
«'  that  bore  as  near  a  relation  to  him  was   to   be 
*'  adored,  as  the  manger  in  which  he  had  lain,  the 
*'  the  afs  on  which  he  rode,    the  thorns  and  the 

*'  lance 


Sec.  II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ZSn 

*' lance  which  were  the  inflrutnents  of  his  paC 
*'  lion,  Sec,"  However,  in  what  he  pubUfhed  on 
this  fubjeft  he  was  anfwered  by  Dungal  of  St.  De- 
nis in  France,  but  what  effe6l  the  controverfy  had 
does  not  appear. 

Claudius  was  not  content  with  reforming  the 
the  abufe  of  the  adoration  of  images.  In  the  lita- 
tiy,  and  other  offices  of  the  church,  he  made  no 
mention  of  any  of  the  faints,  and  did  not  celebiate 
their  feftivals.  He  forbade  the  lighting  of  candles 
in  the  churches  in  the  day  time.  He  alfo  declined 
attending  the  ufual  councils  of  bifhops,  faying 
they  were  the  aflemblies  of  afles.  His  anfwerer, 
however,  faid  that  they  ought  not  to  be  fo  patient, 
or  to  fpare  fuch  a  perfon.  The  emperor  was  not 
altogether  pleafed  with  the  writings  of  Claudius  on 
thofe  fubjefts,  and  by  his  direftion  Jonas  bifliop 
of  Orleans,  was  employed  in  this  work,  when  he 
heard  that  Claudius  was  dead. 

This  eminent  reformer  left  difciples,  and  it  ap- 
peared that,  befides  his  zeal  againfl;  the  worfhip  of 
images,  and  other  fuperllitious  pra6lices,  he  is  faid  to 
have  revived  the  fyflem  of  Arianifm,  or  unitarian- 
ifm,  and  to  have  left  writings  on  this  fubjeft  in  the 
epifcopal  palace.  But  it  does  not  appear  that  they 
were  everpublifhed.  Theanfwer  of  Jonas  is  confined 
to  the  article  of  images,  the  worfliip  of  whichhedif- 
claims,  tho'  he  faid  that  they  who  prayed  before 

them 


Sif4  THE  HISTORY  OI-  Per.  XVl 

them  in  their  honour  ought  not  to  be  treated  as 
idolators. 

Theophilus,  who  fucceeded  his  father  Michael 
in  A.  D,  829,  foon  difcovered  even  more  zeal  againft 
the  worfhippers  of  images  than  his  father  had  done: 
He  not  only  forbade  the  worfhip  of  images,  but 
even  the  making,  or  keeping  of  them,  and  the  pri- 
fons  were  full  of  painters,  monks,  and  bifhops. 
He  had  a  particular  diflike  of  the  monks,  and  for- 
bade them  going  into  cities,  or  even  being  feen  iri 
the  open  fields.  Notwithflanding  this,  his  w'\(6 
Theodora,  and  his  mother  in  law,  continued 
zealous  for  the  wOrftiip  of  images. 

This  emperor  was  particularly  defirous  of  gain- 
ing Theodore  of  jerufalem,  and  his'  brother  Theo- 
phanes,  who  had  been  ill  ufed  and  banifhed  hf 
his  father;  and  for  this  purpofe  he  fent  for  them  iri 
A.  D.  833.  But  not  fucceeding,  they  were  grofsly 
infulted,  having,  it  is  faid,  fome  verfes  infcribed 
on  their  'aces,  and  were  remanded  to  their  place 
of  banifhment.  They  were  offered  their  liberty  if 
they  M^ould  communicate,  tho'  but  once,  with  the 
other  party  ;  but  they  refolutely  refufed,  faying 
it  was  as  if  they  fhould  be  defired  to  cut  off  their 
heads  only  once,  and  that  then  they  might  go 
where  they  pleafed.  Methodius  had  much  bectei: 
teatment,  the  emperor  not  only  taking  him  out 
of  prifon,  but  keeping  him  about  his  perloti,  and 

taking 


Sec.il    the  christian  church.  25^ 

taking  him  with  him  in  his  warlike  expeditions  j 
but  it  was  faid  that  he  was  apprehenfive  of  his  pro- 
moting a  revolt  of  the  common  people  if  he  was 
left  behind.  This,  however,  might  have  been 
prevented  by  his  being  left  in  prifon. 

On  the  death  of  Theophilus,  his  fon  Michael 
being  an  infant,  the  emprefs  Theodora  governed 
in  his  name,  arid  being  a  zealous  advocate  for  the 
worfhip  of  images,  fhe  lignified  to  the  patriarch 
John,  that  he  muft  either  aflift  her  in  relloring 
them,  or  be  expelled  from  his  fee.  Not  comply- 
ing with  her  wifhes,  he  was  depofed,  and  confined 
to  his  country  houfe. 

A  council  being  then  called,  the  Iconoclaflis 
were  again  anathematized,  the  fecond  council  of 
Nice  confirmed,  and  Methodius  was  made  patriarch 
of  Conftantinople.  After  this,  the  images  were 
immediately  replaced  in  the  church  ot  St.  Sophia, 
and  every  where  elfe.  And  to  complete  the  bufi- 
nefs,  the  emprefs  made  a  feafl  for  the  clergy,  and 
others  who  had  fufFered  in  the  late  perfecution, 
and  continued  it  annually  as  long  as  fhe  lived, 
calling  it  the  feajl  of  orthodoxy;  and  it  is  ftill  cele- 
brated in  the  Greek  church.  Thus  ended,  fay  the 
Catholics,  the  herefy  of  the  Iconoclajls,  after  about 
6ne  hundred  and  twenty  years  from  its  introdu6l- 
ion  by  the  emperor  Leo  I  fauricus. 

The 


S55  THE  HISTORY  OF        Te^.  XVI„ 

The  Iconoclafts  were  not,  however,  yet  wholly 
filenced  ;  and  at  the  eighth  general  council,  held 
by  Bafilius  in  a.  d.  869,  af  er  the  bufinefs  of  Pho- 
tius  and  Ignatius  was  difpatched,  Theodore  Cri- 
thin,  the  chief  of  the  Iconoclafts,  was  introduced; 
and  being  required  to  fubmit  to  the  decrees  of  the 
church,  exprelTed  by  the  patriarchs  of  the  five 
apoftolic  fees,  he  replied  with  great  firmnefs,  after 
acknowledging  his  rerpe61;  tor  the  image  of  the  em- 
peror which  was  fliewn  him,  that  he  would  not 
worftiip  the  image  of  Chrift  unlefs  they  could  fhew 
him  that  Chrift  required  it.  Others,  however,  of 
that  party  confefled  their  error,  as  it  was  called, 
and  were  received  into  the  church. 


SECTION  III. 


Of  the  Controverfy  occafioned  by  Gotefchalchus  coiu 
cermng  Predejiination, 


T 


HE  do6lrine  of  predejiinaiion  was 
firft  advanced  by  Auftin,  in  purfuance  of  what 
he  had  maintained  in  the  Pelagian  controver- 
fy on  the  fubjecls  of  Grace,  and  original  fm^ 
But  tho'  his  authority  was  very  great  in  the  Weft- 
ern  church,  his  doftrines  had  not  been  generally 
underftood  in  their  greatcft  rigour,    and  efpecially 

neither 


.-■^    r-'t 


.att.^    .':j 


tec.lir.  THE  CHRISTIAJC  CKtjRCH.  ssf 

iieirKer  himfclf  nor  any '9^  fiis  followers  liaH  taij 
inuch  on  the  fubje8  of  reproba'Aon,  fo  that,  not- 
WUIiflanding  the  deHion  of  fonie  to  eternal  life.  \t 
Vas  fill  taken  for  granted,  that  the  deftru6lion  oi 
the  \vicke5  was  from  them  Pelves ;  that  It  \ras  in  their 
^wer  to  prevent  it,  and  that  Chrifl  died  for  aft 
tnen.  In  this  period,  however,  we  rn^et  with  a 
perfon,  ofafpeculative  and  ferioUs  tutn  (and  therb 
were  always  many  fuch  among  the  rrionks)  Wlio 
Teems  to  have  purfued  the  leading  principles  of 
Auftin  pretty  nearly  to  their  full  extent. 

This  was  Godefchalchus,  a  Saxon,  a  perfon  of 
hoble  birth,  firft  a  monk  in  themonaflery  of  Fulda, 
and  then  in  that  of  Orbais,  in  the  diocefe  of  Soif- 
fons  in  France,  and  oidained  a  prieft  by  a  fuffra- 
gan  of  the  church  of  Rheims,  of  which  Hihcmar 
was  archbifhojj.  In  a.  d!  847  he  vifited  Rome, 
and  on  his  return  he  lived  with  count  Eberhard 
one  of  the  chief  lords  in  the  court  of  the  emperor 
Lothaire  ;  and  difcourfmg  in  the  prefence  of  No- 
thingus  billiop  of  Verona,  concerning  the  doftrine 
of  prericftination,  is  faid  to  have  maintained,  that 
the  predeflinatioh  of  God  impofes  upon  nian  ane- 
cefTity  of  being  virtuous,  or  wicked.  The  bilhop, 
offended  at  this,  mentioned  it  to  Rabanus  Mau- 
rus,  archbifhop  of  Mentz,  who  promifed  to  con- 
fute that  do6irine  in  writing ;  and  accordingly  wrote 
a  treatife  in  two  Letters,  one  addreffed  to  Nothin. 

Vol.  Ill,  R  ^^ 


25g  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI. 

gus,  and  the  other  to  count  Ebeihard,  in  which 
he  quotes  the  authority  of  Auftin  himfeJf  againft 
the  do6lrine  of  Godefchalchus,  and  afferts  that 
God  predeftinates  only  in  confequence  of  for.  fee- 
ing every  thing  that  will  come  to  pafs.  This  treatife 
was  anfwered  by  Godefchalchus,  in  a  work  in 
which,  according  to  Hincmar,  from  whom  only  we 
have  any  account  of  it,  he  maintained  that  the 
reprobate  are  properly  deflined  to  damnation, 
tho'  it  was  in  confequence  of  God's  forefeeing  that 
they  would  live  and  die  in  fin ;  fo  that,  in  this 
refpeft,  it  feems  to  have  been  a  diflFerence  in  words 
only.  But  he  affeited  that  Chrift  did  not  die  but 
for  thofe  who  were  really  faved. 

Hitherto  the  univerfal  opinion  had  been, that  the 
proper  efFe£l  of  the  obedience  and  death  of  Chrifl 
was  reverfing  the  confequence  of  the  fin  of  Adam, 
ot  giving  men  again  that  immortality  which  they 
had  loft  in  him ;  and  that  it  was  by  the  help  of 
grace  imparted  at  baptifm  that  Chriftians  were  ena- 
bled to  do  good  works. 

This  controverfy  excited  fo  much  attention 
that  it  having  been  the  univerfal  pra6lice  to  decide 
upon  aU  queftions  in  councils,  it  was  brought  be- 
fore one  that  was  held  by  Rabanus  at  Mentz  in. 
Oftober  a.  d.  848,  in  which,  tho' Godefchalchus, 
in  explaining  his  ^^^nents,  faid  that  the  wicked 
were  piedeftinated  to  mifery  on  account  of  their 

wicked- 


^t.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  f,S^ 

wickednefs,  he  reproved  Rabanus  for  faying,  thafe 
the  deflru6lIon  ot  the  wicked  was  not  properly  pre- 
deftinated,  but  only  forefeen.  His  opinion  was 
reprobated  by  the  bifhops  aflTembled  on  this  occa- 
Con,  and  Hincmar,  in  whofe  diocefe  he  had  been 
ordained,  was  direfted  not  to  fufFer  him  to  feducc 
the  people,  which  it  was  faid  he  had  done,  making 
them  indifferent  to  all  good  works. 

Hincmar,  having  received  and  examined  God^ 
iefchalchus,  prefented  him  to  a  council  of  bilhops, 
which  was  to  meet  together  with  the  parliament 
of  Charles  the  Bald  at  Oaercyin  a.  d.  859.  Thir- 
teen bifhops  were  prefent  on  this  occafion,  and  af- 
ter the  examination  of  Godefchalchus,  he  was  judg- 
ed to  be  heretical  and  incorrigible,  and  depofed 
from  the  order  of  prie flood.  He  was  alfo,  for 
what  was  called  his  obflinacy  and  infolence  (the 
evidence  of  which,  however,  does  not  exifl)  fen- 
tenced  to  be  whipped  with  rods,  and  imprifoned. 
This  cruel  fentence  was  executed,  and  with  rigour, 
in  the  prefence  of  the  king.  He  was  alfo  obliged 
to  burn  his  own  writings,  and  was  then  confined 
at  the  abbey  of  Hautvilliers  in  the  diocefe  ofRheims. 
He  continued,  however,  to  write  in  his  prifon,  and 
publiflied  two  confefTions  of  his  faith,  exprefTmg 
his  earnefl  defire  to  defend  what  appeared  to  him 
to  be  the  truth  in  the  prefence  of  king  Charles,  of 
the  bifhops,  and  the  monks.  It  is  likewife  faid  that 

^2  b? 


J26D  THE  HlfeTORY  OF        Per.  XV I* 

he  profefled  his  willingnefs  to  put  the  truth  of  his 
opinions  to  the  trial  of  fire  or  water. 

Notwithllanding  the  authority  of  Hincmar, 
and  the  other  enemies  of  Godefchalchus,  he  wai 
iiot  without  friends,  and  fome  of  them  in  high  fta- 
tions,  or  eminent  tor  their  literature.  In  particu- 
lar Ratram,  the  learned  monk  of  Corbie  and  Pru- 
dentins  bifhop  of  Troyes,  took  his  part ;  thinking 
his  do6lrine  fapported  by  the  authority  of  Auftin; 
and  many  others  (hewed  a  difpofition  to  join  him, 
Thefe  circumftances  Contributed  to  draw  the  far- 
ther attention  of  king  Charles ;  and  in  this  age 
every  prince  confidered  himfelf  as  an  authori- 
fed  defender  of  the  faith,  and  having  confultedl 
with  Ratram,  this  learned  man  wrote  two  bo  k* 
on  the  fubjea  of  predeftination,  and  in  the<n 
maintained  the  do6lrine  of  two  predeftinati- 
ons.  This  treatife,  and  another  of  I.upus  abbcrt; 
of  Fcrrara  oa  the  fame  fide  of  'he  qucflion,  the 
king  gave  to  Hincmar  for  his  exammation. 

Hincmar,  and  Paidu'.us  bifhop  of  Laon,  whof 
took  the  fame  fide,  feeing  the  do6lrine  of  two  pre- 
deftinations  fupported  by  the  writings  of  Ratram, 
Lupus,  and  Prudentius,  employed  the  deacon 
Amulacius,  and  John  furnamed  Erigena,  a  learned 
and  fubtle  Irilhman,  to  anfwer  them.  The  work 
of  the  latter  is  Hill  extant,  and  in  it  he  maintains 
that  there  is  only  one  predeftination,  viz.  that  to 

eternal 


Sec.  III.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.        261 

efernal  life,  and  that  fin  and  punifhment,  being 
only  piivations,  could  not  properly  be  predefti- 
nated,  or  fort  feen.  He  alfo  quotas  St.  Auftin  as  fa- 
vourable 'Q  his  argument. 

Prudentlus  replied  to  the  work  of  John  Evi- 
grna,  treating  him  as  a  Pelagian,  but  did  not  un- 
dv-i  lake  the  defence  of  Godefchalchus,  who  indeed 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  farther  concerned 
in  the  controverfy.  Erigena  was  alio  aniwered  by 
Florus  a  deacon  of  Lyons.  Aniolon  the  bifhop 
of  this  diocefe,  to  whom  Godeschalchus  had  fent 
feis  writings,  and  feems  on  the  whole  to  have  been 
a  well  wiftier  to  him,  reproved  him  for  many 
things  that  he  had  advanced,  efpecK.ily  for  aiTerting 
that  they  who,  are  redeemed  by  Chrifl  cannot  pe- 
rifh,  that  the  reprobate  cannot  be  faved,  and  that 
God  and  the  faints  rejoice  in  their  deIlru6lion. 
R-emigius,  who  fucceeded  Amolon  took  the  part 
of  Godefchalchus  more  openly,  and  in  anfwer  to 
fome  letters  of  Hincmar  on  the  fubjeft,  complains 
»f  the  hard  fate  of  Godefchalchus  for  defending 
the  truth. 

After  the  council  of  SoiflTons,  in  a.  d.  853, 
king  Charles  coming  to  Ouercy  figned  four  ar- 
ticles, which  had  been  there  compofed  by  Hinc- 
mar, againft  the  doarine  of  Godefchalchus,  in 
which  he  acknowledged  only  one  predeftination. 
viz.  to  eternal  life,  but  allowed  that  God  forefaw, 

R  3  th&* 


262  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVI^: 

tho'  he  did  not  decree,  the  deflrudion  of  the  wick- 
ed. "  God,"  fays  he,  wiUs  all  to  be  faved.  Some 
*«.  he  aftually  faves  by  his  mercy,  but  others  penfh 
*'  thro'  their  own  fault."  Prudentius  ot  Troyes 
was  induced  to  fign  thefe  ai tides,  and  yet  in  the 
fame  year  he  declared  himfelf  of  a  different  opini- 
on in  his  writings  ;  and  on  the  whole  the  fenti- 
ments  of  Godefchalchus,  tho'  in  fome  refpeds  no- 
vel, appear  to  have  been^  very  prevalent,  ancj 
were  even  fanclioned  by  the  moll  refpedtablfccoun?. 
cils. 

Th^  four  articles  of  Hincmar  being  fent  to  the 
church  of  Lyons,  Remigius  and  his  clergy  were 
ihocked  at  them,  as,  in  their  opinion,  attacking 
the  authority  of  the  fcriptures,  the  Fathers,  and  ef- 
pecially  St.  Aullin.  The  bifhop,  therefore,  an- 
fwered  them,  maintaining  the  two-fold  predeftina- 
tion.  He  maintained  the  fame  do6lrine  at  the 
third  council  of  Valence,  aflembled  by  the  order  of 
the  emperor  Lothaire  in  a.  d.  855.  There  the 
bifhops  determined  that  "  the  prefcience  of  God 
*'  does  not  impofe  upon  man  a  neceffity.  of  being 
<•  wicked  ;  that  there  are  two  predellinations  of  the 
"  20od  to  eternal  lite,  and  of  the  wicked  to  death  ; 
*•  and  that  Chrift  died  only  for  thofe  who  believe 
*'  in  him.  We  rejeCi"  they  fay,  '"'  as  hurtful  and 
«•  contrary  to  truth,  the  four  articles  which  have 
.^-  ^een  received  wi'^h  little  precaution  hy  our  bre- 

«*  threq 


Sic.III.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.        2&8 

"  thren.  As  to  the  grace  without  which  no  rea- 
"  fonable  creature  ever  lived  well,  and  the  free 
<«  will  which  was  weakened  in  Adam,  and  refto- 
"  red  by  the  grace  ot  Chrift,  we  believe  what  has 
«'  been  taught  by  the  Fathers,  the  councils  of  Afri- 
««  ca  and  Orange,  and  what  the  popes  have  held  ; 
'•  but  we  rejetl  with  difdain  the  impertinent  fables 
"  and  queftions  of  the  Scots,  which  have  been  the 
«'  occafion  of  fo  lamentable  a  divifion  in  thefe  un- 
<«  happy  times."  By  this  they  meant  the  writings 
of  John  Erigena.  The  decrees  of  this  council 
were  confirmed  in  anoher  held  at  Savonieresin  a. 
D.  859,  and  feem  to  have  had  the  fanction  of  the 
papal  fee.  Hiticraar  was  not  filcnced  by  thefe 
councils  ;  but  wrote  in  dvifence  of  the  four  articles 
of  Quercy,  tho'  Fleury  fays  with  more  erudition 
than  judgment.  Vol.  10,  p.  536. 

Itfeemsnot  a  little  extraordmary  that,  not- 
withilanding  the  prevalence  of  Godefchalchus's 
opinions,  he  himfeif  continued  m  p.ifon,  the  fen- 
tence  palTed  again  ft  him  not  having  been  reverfed* 
There  was  probably  fomething  oflFenfive  in  his 
manner,  tho'  nothing  will  juftify  the  treatment 
he  met  with.  Hmcmar.  fays  he  lived  as  other 
monks  did,  with  every  convenience  of  life,  but  that 
ever  fince  he  had  been  coiifined,  he  had  never 
xvaihed  his  hands  or  face,  fo  that  it  he  (hould  go 
abroad  he  would  itrike  perfons  with  horror.     He 

died 


died  in  this  ftatjs  of  confinement  m  a.  d.  868,  an4 

before  he  died  reie6^ed  with  indi (;n<ition  a  formula- 

■V.,  ■  J.  _  o  ^itir.'j  '- 

TV  qf  f  onfefliuu  which  Hincmar  lent  him. 


SECTIQN  IV. 

0/  the  Propagation  of  Chrijllanity  in  this  Ptnod, 


1^1 


ONSIDER ABLE  progrefs  was 
made  in  the  propagation  of  chriftianity  in  the 
CDurfeof  this  period  of  our  hiftory  ;  and  though  in 
moft  cafes  the  conveifions  were  only  nominal,  an4 
the  chriftianity  to  which  Heathens  were  converted 
a  miferable  fuperftition,  it  laid  the  foundation  for. 
fomething  of  a  better  kind  in  future  time.  Tha^ 
the.converfions  made  by  the  arms  of  Charlemagne 
were  of  little  value,  appeared  when,  in  a.  d.  842, 
Charles  the  fon  of  Lewis  gave  the  Saxonsthe  op- 
tion of  taking  what  religion  they  pleafed.  For  they 
chofe  to  return  to  paganifra.  In  general  the  con- 
veifions in  this  period,  as  thofe  in  the  preceding, 
began  with  the  princes,  and  therefore  may  be  fuf- 
pedted  of  having  a  political  objecl;  but  fome  were 
brought  about,  in  fome  meafurc  at  leaft,  in  a  better 
Rianner. 


^c.IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  26^ 

The  Bulgarians  having  taken  Adrianople  in 
^.  D.  813,  and  carried  away  many  captives,  and 
,aniong  them  the  archbifhop  Manuel,  they  vyerq 
\}\e  means  of  converting  many  of  that  people.  In 
A.  D.  865,  the  king  of  Bulgaria,  who  had  marriec^ 
a  chriRian,  was  hirqfelf  converted,  and  fent  to  the: 
emperor  of  Conftantinopl-  for  a  bifliop,  who  bap- 
tized him  ;  and  his  fabje6ls  in  general  followed 
his  example.  He  was  atterwards  induced  to  fend 
to  Rome  for  far  her  inltmtlion  in  the  chriftian  re- 
ligion  ;  and  this  \vas  the  occahon  of  legates  and 
bifhops  being  fent  from  thence ;  and  at  length  the 
conteflfor  the  jurisdiction  of  this  country  contribu- 
ted more  than  any  other  circumftance  to  the  final 
reparation  of  the  two  churches. 

In  A.  D.  866,  the  Chazares  Tent  to  the  empe- 
ror Michael  for  fome  perfons  to  inftrudl  them  in  the 
chriflian  faith,  and  he  fent  Conftantius,  who  after 
having  learned  their  language,  tranflated  the  fcrip- 
tures  into  it,  and  taught  them  the  ufe  of  letters.  In 
the  fame  year,  Bartilas,  prince  of  the  Moravians, 
hearing  what  the  Chazares  had  done,  fent  embaf- 
fadors  to  the  emperor  Michael  with  the  fame  re- 
q^ueft;  aqd  acordingly  he  fent  two  brothers,  Con- 
ftantine  and  Methodius,  who  were  well  received. 
Pope  Nicolas,  however,  hearing  of  this,  wrote  to 
them,  and  engaged  them  to  go  to  Rome,  and  re- 
ceive bifhops  ot  his  ordination. 

■K.  5  Metho- 


266  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI. 

Methodius,  who  is  called  the  archbifliop  of 
Sclavonia,  converted  the  duke  of  Bohemia,  his 
wife,  and  thirty  of  his  nobles  in  a.  d.  880.  Moft 
of  the  Sclavi  were  converted  in  a.  d.  950,  Oiho 
having  conquered  Boleslaus  king  of  Bohemia. 

It  is  difputed  between  the  Greeks  and  the  La- 
tins which  of  them  introduced  chriftianity  info 
Hungary,  but  it  was  probably  the  former.  Mof-^ 
heim,  2.  184. 

About  A.  D.  870,  the  Ruffians  received  the 
chriRian  faith,  the  prince,  as  ufual,  leading  the 
way  i  but  the  circumllances  of  this  converfion  have 
much  the  air  of  fable. 

In  A.  D.  825  Heriold  king  of  Denmark  being 
driven  from  his  country,  had  recourfe  to  the  em- 
peror Lewis  ;  and  in  expe£lation  of  afTillance  from, 
him,  profelTed  himfelf  a  chriflian,  and  was  bap- 
tized, together  with  his  children  and  many  other 
Danes.  When  he  returned  to  his  dominions,  he 
was  accompanied  by  the  monks  Anfgar  or  Anfcaire, 
and  Aubert.  In  a.  d.  830  Anfcaire,  accompa- 
nied by  Vitmar,  went  to  Sweden ;  and  with  the 
leave  of  the  king  preached  with  fuccefs  there;  and 
to  facilitate  the  converfion  of  thofe  northern  nati- 
ons, a  bifhoprick  was  eftablifhed  at  Hamburgh, 
and  Anfcaire  was  placed  in  the  fee ;  but  he  had 
to  flruggle  with  great  difficulties,    and  was   fome- 

times 


Sec.  IV.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHORCH.         aer 

times  obliged  to  leave  the  place  on  account  of  the 
ravages  of  the  Normans.  He  was  moft  zealous 
and  indefatigable  in  his  labours  in  all  the  northern 

o 

parts  of  Europe,  and  had  for  his  fellow  labourers 
or  fucceffors,  behdes  Witmar-  above  mentioned, 
EbbO)  Rembert,  and  others.  Mo/Iicim,  vol.  2, 
p.  16. 

As  chriftianify  gained  ground  in  the  North,  it 
fuffered  in  the  Eaft  and  the  South,  in  confequence 
of  the  power  of  the  Saracens.  In  the  civil  wars 
among  them,  after  the  death  of  Haroun  Alrafchid^ 
the  chritlians  were  expofed  to  great  fufferings, 
and  many  of  them  fled  to  Conftantinople,  where 
tbey  were  received  with  great  humanity  by  the  em- 
peror Michael,  - 

About  the  year  a.  d.  850,  feveial  chriftians 
fufFcred  death  at  Cordova,  either  for  abandoning, 
or  reviling  the  Mahometan  religion ;  but  the  fpirit 
with  which  they  fuffered  is  not  to  be  commended. 
In  general,  they  offered  themfelves  to  the  judges, 
who  feem  to  have  been  unwilling  to  hurt  them. 
This  condu6l  was  much  blamed  by  many  of  their 
fellow  chriflians  ?t  the  time;  and  an  alfembly  of  the 
clergy  convoked  by  king  Abderame  on  the  ccca- 
fion,  forbade  the  offering  themfelves  to  martyrdom 
tho'  they  did  not  chufe  to  pafs  any  cenfure  on 
thofe  who  had  done  it.  As  many  perfons  would 
not  confider  them  as  martyrs,  Kuiogius,  a  pried  of 
. .  -  Cordova. 


2^  THE  HISTOB.Y  OF        Per.  XV i^ 

Cordova,  wrote  a  hiftory  apd  dejepGe  of  them.  H%. 
Ijimfeif  was  afterwards,  put  to  (|eath  iqr  feqretingj 
a  young  woman  who  had  renoiinced  the  Maho- 
snecan  religion.  Fieury  condemns  the  condud  of 
thnfe  who  offered  themfelves  to  martyrdom ;  but, 
lays  that  the  authority  of  the  church,  which  haSi 
received  them  as  martyrs  and  faints,  and  among^ 
them  Eulogius:  their  defender,  ought  to  arreft,  our 
judgmient,  vpl.  lo,  p.  510. 

It  is  faid  that  the  monks  oppofed  the  affeffment 
©f  the  eftates  that  had  been  given  to  their  order, 
and  that  on  this  the  king  caufed  the  council  above 
mentioned  to  be  held;  but  that  it  was  reprobated, 
and  Eulogiu.s  chofen  archbifhop  of  Toledo  for  the 
seal  he  fhewed  on  the  occafion,  tho'  he  was  foon 
lifter  apprehended,  and^  executed.  Robinfon^ip.  23^. 


SZCTIOM 


Sic.  V    tHE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  !2««^ 


SECTION  V. 

Of  the  State  of  the  yews  and  Chrijlidn  Se^anes, 
and  of  the  Rife  0/  peculiar  Opinions^  within  ihik 
Periods 


1 


.N  the  time  of  Agobard  bifliop  of 
Lyons,  the  Jews  were  very  numerous  in  that  city, 
arid  its  neighbourhood,  and  many  chriftians  a- 
dopted  their  cufloms.  Writing  to  Nebrodius  bi^ 
fiiop  of  Narbonne,  he  fays  that  fome  chriftians 
obferved  the  fabbath  as  they  didj  work'ng  on  fun- 
days,  and  paying  no  regard  to  the  appointed  fafls. 
Many  women,  he  fays,  were  corrup  ed  by  them^ 
and  faid  that  they  were  of  the  race  of  the  patri-» 
archs  and  prophets,  Nay^  many  of  the  commori 
people  went  fo  far  as  to  fay  that  the  Jews  were  tht 
only  true  people  of  God,  and  who  adhered  to  thft 
true  religion.  They  alfb  faid  that  the  Jews  preach- 
ed better  than  the  chriftian  f)riells.  It  appears  by" 
the  account  of  a  famine  in  Germany  in  the  ninth 
century,  that  the  laws  of  Mofes  fo  far  as  they  rela- 
ted to  the  eating  of  things  ftrangled,  were  binding 
upon  chnftuns ;  it  being  faid  that   neceffity  alone 

made 


fe>?(>  THE  HISTORY  OF       Fee.  XVli 

m^de  it  excufable  to  eat  of  a  hind  that  had  been 
killed  by  wolves.  But  the  prohibition  to  eat  of 
things  ftrang]ed,  and  blood,  had  the  fanftion  ot 
the  apoftles,  and  it  is  to  this  day  obferved  in  all 
the  Eaft. 

The  Jews  wel-e  nbt,  however,  without  fomdrea* 
fon  to  complain  of  the  treatment  they  met  with  in 
this  period.  Their  flaves  were  fometimes  baptized, 
and  then,  to  their  great  prejudice,  obtained  their  • 
liberty.  The  emperor  Lewis,  who  was  difpofed  to 
favour  them,  made  the  confent  of  the  mafter,  tho* 
a  Jew,  neceffary  to  the  baptizing  of  a  flave.  Of 
this  Agobard,  who  wrote  againll  them,  complain- 
ed ;  faying,  that  the  Jews  ought  to  be  indemnified 
for  thelofs  of  their  flaves,  but  that  falvation  ought 
not  to  be  denied  to  any.  At  a  council  held  at 
Metz  in  Aj  d.  888,  chrillians  were  forbidden  to  eat 
with  Jews. 

It  has  been  obferved,  that  in  general,  the  Sara- 
cens were  difpofed  to  favour  thofe  chrillians  who 
were  deemed  herefical,  as  lefs  liable  to  take  part 
with  the  Greek  emperors  againfl  them.  But  Po- 
iitien  the  Melchite  patriarch  of  Alexandria,  being 
a  phyfician,  and  having  cured  a  concubine  of  the 
caliph  Haroun  Alrafchid,  he  gave  him  the  pofsef- 
fion  of  all  the  churches  which  had  beeil  ufurped 
by  the  Jacobites  in  that  city. 

It 


sec.v.  the  christian  church.        srt 

It  was  feen  in  the  former  part  of  this  work 
how  much  the  Gnoftic  dodrines,  which  arofe 
from  the  oriental  philofophy,  fpread  among  chrif- 
tians,  appearing  in  the  time  of  the  apoltles,  and 
fliewing  themfe'ves  in  different  forms  to  the  time 
of  Manes.  They  were  long  confidered  as  the  on- 
ly proper  heretics  in  the  chriftian  church,  being 
excluded  from  other  churches,  and  forming  fepa- 
rate  focieties  of  their  own.  From  one  Paul,  who 
is  faid  to  have  adopted  and  modified  the  doftrines 
of  Manes,  tho'  it  is  not  known  at  what  time  he 
lived,  many  of  them  were  called  Paulicians ;  and 
they  were  fo  numerous  in  Phrygia,  Lycaonia,  and 
efpecially  Amienia,  that  at  length,  urged  no  doubt 
by  perfecution,  they  formed  a  fcparate  flate;  and 
like  the  Donatifts  in  Africa,  were  frequently  at  war 
with  the  Greek  emperors. 

The  only  account  that  we  have  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Paulicians  is  given  by  Peter  the  Sicili<» 
an,  who  in  a.  d.  871,  was  fent  by  the  emperor 
Baliliscus  to  Tibrica  the  capital  of  the  Paulicians  in 
Armenia,  to  treat  of  an  exchange  of  prifoners.  He 
was  with  them  nine  months  ;  and  having  informed 
himfelf  concerning  their  do6lrines,  he  wrote  an  ac- 
count of  them,  dedicating  his  work  to  the  firft 
archbifhop  of  Bulgaria,  where  the  Paulicians  were 
making  many  converts.  For  they  were  indefati- 
gable 


272  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVIi 

tK^^able  in  propagating  ^Keir  db£lriri~e,  and  had  great 
Jfuccefsin  that  country. 

According  to  this  writer,  the  Paulicians  adi 
iknbwledged  tv/o  principles,  the  one  good,  and  the 
other  bad,  the  latter  the  author  of  this  world,  and 
the  formei:  of  the  world  to  come.  They  received 
ilohe  of  the  books  of  the  old  Teftament,  but  all 
thofe  of  the  new,  except  the  two  epiftles  of  Peter. 
They  alfo  made  great  account  of  fome  epiftles  oF 
oiie  Sergius,  a  perfon  of  note  among  them.  Jefus, 
they  faid,  brought  his  body  from  heaven.  They 
reje6led  the  eucharift,  and  according  to  other  ac- 
counts, baptifm  alfo  ;  and  as  Theophanes  faid^ 
they  denied  the  incarnation  ;  and  as  the  Albigen- 
fes,  who  were  in  part  derived  from  them,  were  not 
trinitarians,  it  is  pretty  clear  that  they  v/ere  not 
what  was  called  orthodox  iii  that  refpe6t. 

The  Paulicians  were  muth  divided  atriotig 
themfelves,  and  a  particular  account  of  their  differ- 
ent fe£ls  may  be  feen  in  Fleury,  Vol.  10,  p.  105^ 
but  it  is  not  of  much  confequence  to  be  acquaint- 
ed with  them.  It  is  faid  that  there  are  probably 
Paulicians  ftill  in  France  and  Bulgaria.  Mojhem 
Vol.2,   p.  175. 

The  emperor  Nicephorus  was  much  attached 
to  the  Paulicians,  but  they  were  cruelly  perfecuted 
by  the  emperor  Michael  in  a.  d.  81 1.      The  patri- 
arch Nicephorus  and  others  remonftrated  againft 

his 


i^s'c.  V     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  2f3 

his  feverity,  but  the  abbot  Theophanes  approved 
of  it.  At  this  time  one  Conflantine  is  faid  to  have 
niadefome  alteration  in  their  do6lrine,  and  to  have 
had  many  difciples.  But  by  the  order  of  Michael  he 
was  feized,  and  ftoned  to  death.  His  own  difciples 
were  ordered  to  throw  the  flones,  but  none  of  them 
iivould  hurt  him,  except  one  JuPtus,  whom  he  had 
iadopted  fome  years  before,  and  inftrufted  with  piN 
ticular  care.  He  gave  him  the  mortal  blow,  ft 
is  remarkable  that  one  Simeon,  who  executed  thie 
birders  of  the  emperor,  was  afterwards  a  convert 
to  the  Paulicians,  and  fucceeding  Conflantine  as 
head  of  the  fe6l,  called  himfelf  Titus.  By  the 
order  of  Juftin  II.  he  wils  apprehended,  and  with 
ibme  others  burned  to  death. 

In  A.*D.  845  the  emprefs  Theodora  uhdei*- 
tbok  to  extirpate  the  Paulicians,  and  it  is  faid  that 
a  hundred  thoufand  of  them  were  dellroycd.  Ma- 
liy  of  them  fled  to  the  Saracens,  and  joined  them 
again fl  the  Romans.  Cryfocheris,  a  chief  among 
the  Paulicians,  had  great  reputation  for  his  pru- 
dence and  valour.  He  was  very  troublefome  to 
the  Romans,  making  frequent  incurfions  into  the 
territories  of  the  emperor,  and  taking  many  prifon- 
cf-s.  _At  length,  however,  he  was  defeated  and 
flain. 

A  fchifm  of  fome  continuance  in  the  Greek 

church  was  occafioned  by  the  emperor  Conftan- 

V©L.  Ill,  S  tind 


2^-4  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI* 

tine  Porphyrogeneta  divorcing  his  wife  and  mariy- 
ing  another.  The  monk  Theodore  Studites,  ma- 
ny of  whofe  writings  are  come  down  to  us,  his 
brother  Jofeph  bifhop  of  Theflalonica,  and  Platoa 
a  perfon  of  noble  family,  famous  for  abandoning 
eonfiderable  employments  and  becoming  a  monk, 
diftinguiftied  themfelves  by  their  oppofnion  to 
this  marriage,  and  the  laft  of  them  aftually  excom- 
municated the  emperor  on  account  of  it.  On 
their  refufing  to  communicate  with  another  Jo- 
feph, a  prieft  who  had  performed  the  ceremony  of 
marriage  (confidering  hirn  as  one  who  had  autho-- 
rifed  adultery)  a  council  was  called,  in  confequence 
of  which  the  perfons  above  mentioned  were  banifh- 
ed  to  different  places,  and  Theodore  appealed  t(i 
the  pope.  However,  the  emperor  Michael  recall- 
ed them,  and  put  an  end  to  the  fchifm  by  the  ba- 
nifhment  of  the  prieft  Jofeph. 

The  emperor  Michael  the  Stammerer  diftin- 
guiftied himfelf  not  a  little  by  the  freedom  of  his 
thinking  in  feveral  refpe61;s.  He  did  not  believe 
that  there  was  any  devil,  becaufe,  as  he  obierved, 
Mofes  faid  nothing  of  one.  He  maintained  that 
Tudas  Ifcariot  was  faved,  and  he  allowed  of  no  oath 
but  by  the  fupreme  God.  Having  been  educated 
at  Amorium  in  Phrygia,  which  abounded  with 
Paulicians,  he  retained  lome  of  their  principles, 
«nd  is  faid  to  have  denied  the  refurre^tion. 

In 


{life.  V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  irs 

In  this  period  was  the  origin  of  the  afterwards 
famous  do6lrine  of  tranfubjlantiation.  In  a.  d. 
1^3 1,  Pafchafms  Radbert,  a  monk  of  Corbie,  at 
the  requefl  of  one  of  his  difcip'es,  wrote  a  treatife 
on  the  eucharifl,  in  which  he  maintained  that  the 
felements  of  bread  and  wine  were  the  real  body  and 
^lood  of  Chrift,  the  very  fame  that  was  born  oi 
the  virgin  Mary,  and  that  after  confecration  the 
fubflance  of  bread  and  wine  did  not  remain  iri 
them.  From  this  he  drew  three  confcquences^ 
viz,  that  Chrift  is  truly  facrificed  every  day,  but 
in  a  myftery;  that  the  eucharift  is  at  the  fame 
time  the  truth  and  a  figijre  ;  and  thaf  the  elements 
are  not  fubje6l  to  the  procefs  of  digeftion.  By 
this  means  he  maintained  what  was  called  the 
doftrine  of  the  real  prefencc,  and  he  laid  fo  much 
ftrefs  upon  it,  as  to  fay  that  they  who  did  not  be- 
lieve it  were  worfe  than  the  openly  profane.  This 
doHrine,  however,  beingnew,  had  not  at  lirft  many 
adherents,  and  at  the  requeft  of  Charles  the  Bal(?_, 
Ratram  anfwered  the  treatife  of  Pafchafius.  * 

S  2  In 

*  La  Croze  fays  he  confiders  the  doclrine  of  tranfub- 
iVantiation  as  having  originated  in  Egypt,  and  to  have 
been  a  confequence  of  the  do<Slrine  of  the  Monophyfites. 
It  there  appeared  as  an  affumption  of  the  bread  and 
Wine  in  the  eucharift,  into  an  hypoftatical  union  with 
the  body  and  blood  of  Chrift  ;  and  by  their  union  mak- 
ing but  one  nature   with  him.     Christianisme  d''  Arm9^ 


»• 


* 


876  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVL 

In  A.  D.  846,  the  fame  Pafchafius  wrote 
treatife  to  prove  that  the  virgin  Mary,  having  con- 
ceived without  concupifcence,  was  free  from  the 
pains  of  childbirth,  and  was  even  delivered  with* 
out  any  openingof  the  womb  ;  Jefus  having  pafT- 
ed  thro'  her  flelh,  as  it  is  fuppofed  that  he  dicj 
thro'  the  door,  without  opening  it,  when  he  appear- 
ed to  his  difciples,  tht  door,  as  we  read,  being  Jhui, 
Ratram  oppofed  this  opinion  alfo,  but  Parchafius 
defended  it,  and  charged  his  adverfary  with  deny- 
ing the  virginity  of  Mary.  MoJIieim,  Vol.  2j 
p.   162. 

The  do£lrine  of  the  trinity  was  fufBciently  e- 
ftablifhed  in  this  period  ;  but  the  conclufion  of  an 
antient  hymn  te  trina  deitas  imaque  pofscimiis,  giv- 
ing offence  to  Hincmar,  he  wifhed  to  have  it  left 
out.  The  monks,  however,  joined  by  Gothefchal- 
cus,  who  tho'  in  prifon  wrote  in  defence  of  it,  op- 
pofing  him,  it  continued  to  be  fung  as  before^ 
lb.  Vol,  2,  p.  160. 


SECTION 


Sic.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  277 


SECTION  VI. 

0/  the  State  of  the  Clergy  in  this  Period, 

V  V  E  have  feen  in  the  preceding 
periods  of  this  hiflory,  how  very  diflPerent  a  fet  of 
tnen  were  the  chriftian  clergy,  and  the  original 
humble  and  fufFering  teachers  of  the  religion  of 
Jefus.  In  every  fubfequent  period  we  fhall  find 
them  advancing  in  their  pretenfions,  and  the  laity 
aiding  that  advancement,  both  with  refpedt  to  fpi- 
ritual  and  temporal  power.  Their  fuppofcd  power 
in  fpirituals  contributed  much  to  overawe  an  ig- 
norant age,  fo  that  their  power  was  hardly  thought 
to  have  any  bounds. 

The  bifhops  of  France,  in  their  letter  to  king 
Lewis  (faid  to  be  written  by  Hincmar  archbifhop  of 
Rheims)  faid  he  ought  "  to  compel  the  lords  who 
"  had  feized  the  goods  of  the  church  to  make  fa- 
*'  tisfadion,  and  do  penance.  Would  you  aug- 
*•'  ment  your  kingdom  at  the  expence  of  your 
"  foul  ?  The  churches  which  God  has  confided  to 
"  us  are  not  fiefs,  which  the  kings  can  give  and 
"  take  away  as  they  pleafe,  but  goods  confecrated 
*'  to  God,    which  cannot  be  alienated  without  fa- 

S  3  crilege 


%. 


grs  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVL 

"  crilege.  We  are  not  fecular  perfons,  who  can 
*'  make  ourfelves  vaffals,  and  take  oaths  contrary  to 
*'  the  fcriptures  and  the  canons.  It  would  be  an 
*'  abomination  if  thofe  hands  which  have  received 

T 

*'  the  unftion  of  the  holy  chrifm,  and  by 
*'  prayer  and  the  fign  of  the  crofs  make  bread  and 
«'  wine  become  the  body  and  blqod  of  Chrift, 
*'  fhould  become  flaves  to  an  oath,  any  more  than 
*'  the  tongue  of  the  bifhop,  who  has  the  key  of 
^*  heaven.  If  any  have  exacted  fuch  an  carh  of 
*'  bifhops,  both  they  who  have  exafted  it,  and 
*'  they  who  have  taken  it,  oughtto  do  penance  for  it." 
The  giving  of  fiefs  to  bifhops  and  monks, 
which  began  with  Charlemagne,  and  had  never 
heGn  done  by  the  Lombard  princes,  was 
felt  as  a  great  evil  in  this  period  ;  and  the  infecure 
Hate  of  property  contributed  much  to  increafe  the 
evil,  many  perfons  giving  their  lands  to  the  church 
for  their  greater  fccurity,  referving  only  a  certain 
allowance  out  of  them  to  themfelves.  When  the 
heirs  to  fuch  eftates  failed,  they  fell  wholly  to  the 
church.  Hence  the  diflinftion  between  fendum 
datuvi  and  feudum  oblatum.  Giannone,  Vol.  i,  p. 
366.  When,  afterwards,  Arnold  of  Brefcia  main- 
tained that  fiefs  could  not  be  given  to  the  church, 

lie  was  deemed  a  heretic.      lb.  p.  323. 

The  power  of  adminiftering,  and  confequent- 

ly   of  with-holding,  the  facraments  of  the  churchy 


11 


,^c.  VI.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.        27i) 

was  a  great  inflrument  of  the  power  of  the  clergy j. 
and  was  often  ufed  very  improperly.  The  fame 
Hincmar  of  Rheims,  complaining  of  Hincmar 
bifhop  of  Laon,  his  nephew  and  fuflFragan,  fays, 
he  had  laid  an  interdift  on  the  whole  diocefe  of 
Laon,  forbidding  to  celebrate  mafs,  to  baptize 
children,  appoint  penance,  give  the  viaticum  to 
the  dying,  or  bury  the  dead ;  and  fays  he  was 
fiiocked  at  it.  This  (hews,  fays  Fjeury,  that  thefe 
general  interdifts  were  not  then  common,  tho* 
particular  ones  were  in  ufe. 

Difpenfations  for  marrying  within  the  prohi- 
bited degrees  was  a  great  fource  of  wealth  and  pow- 
er to  the  clergy;  and  in  this  period  the  idea  of 
Jpiritiial  affinity,  between  godfathers  and  godmo- 
thers, and  their  fonsand -daughteis,  as  an  impedi- 
ment to  marriage,  was  introduced.  Giannone,  Vol, 
h  p.  365- 

Much  as  the  princes  had  to  complain  of  the 
ufurpation  of  the  bifhops,  it  was  derived  from 
their  own  fuperllition,  in  fanftioning  the  decrees 
©f  councils.  Charlemagne,  a  little  before  his  death, 
appointed  councils  to  be  held  at  five  different 
places  in  his  dominions,  the  decrees  of  which  were 
brought  to  him,  and  he  added  the  civil  authority 
to  thofe  of  them  that  required  it.  He  alfo  order- 
ed that,  in  any  ftage  of  a  lawfuit,  if  either  of  the 
parties  applied  to  a  bifhop,  his  fentence  fhould  be 

S  4  accepted^ 


$|0  THi:  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XVI. 

accepted,  and  that  the  evidence  of  a  fingle  bifliop 
fliould  always  be  admitted  by  judges.  This,  he 
thought  was  agreeable  to  a  law  of  Conftantine, 
which  has  fince  been  proved  to  be  fpurious.  Tho* 
as  Fleury  fays,  it  has  fcrvcd  much  to  extend  the 
jurifdidion  of  the  bifliops. 

The  biOjops  had  all  the  power  of  civil  magis- 
trates. At  the  council  of  Mayence  in  a.  d.  813, 
it  was  ordered  that  the  vagabond  and  independent 
plergy  (probably  the  difciples  of  Adelbert  or  Cle- 
ment, mentioned  in  the  preceding  period,)  thofe 
who  were  not  in  the  fervice  of  any  prince,  or  un- 
der any  bifhop  or  abbot,  fhould  be  anelled  by  the 
t)ifliop  of  the  diocefe  without  delay,  that  if  (hey. 
would  not  fubrnit,  they  fhould  be  excommunica- 
ted, and  that  if  this  did  not  corre6i  them,  they: 
fhould  be  imprifoned,  in  order  to  be  judged  in  a 
council.* 

In  the  Capitulary  of  Charles  the  Bald,  in  a. 
D.  853,  lords  were  forbidden  to  hinder  the  bifliops 
from  ordering  the  feds  on  their  eflates  to  be  beaten 
when  their  crimes  required  it.  Accordingly  the 
count  and  his  officers  were  ordered  to  accompany 
the  bifliops  in  their  vifitations,  to  compel  thofe 
who  could  not  be  reduced  by   mere  excommuni- 

catioa 

*  It  was  Charlemagne  who  gave  the  popes  and  other 
bifliops  the  privilege  of  having  prifons,  which  before 
his  time  had  not  been  allowed  even  in  Rome,  dan-. 
J20nr,  Vol.  ly  p.  365^. 


5ec.  VI.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         281 

cation  ^o  do  penance.  Pope  Nicolas,  writing  tq 
the  king  of  Bulgaria  concerning  fome  of  his  fub- 
jefts  who  had  apoftatized,  fays  "  If  they  cannot  be, 
"  reclaimed  they  muft  be  excommunicated,  an^ 
*'  reprefiedby  the  fecular  power.  For  the  king  ought 
•'  tochaftife  thofewho  are  faithlefs  to  pod,  nolefs 
"  than  thofe  who  are  faithlefs  to  himfelf.  Flcwy^ 
Vol.  1 1,  p.  108. 

This  interference  of  the  fpiritual  and  tempora^ 
powers  did  not  pafs  without  notice  or  complaint. 
The  emperor  Lewis  having  held  an  aflfcmbly  z.% 
Aix  in  A.  D.  828,  to  enquire  into  the  caufes  of  the 
diforders  of  the  times,  in  order  to  apply  a  remedy 
to  them,  Vala  the  abbot  of  Corbie  faid,  that  the 
temporal  and  fpiritual  powers  encroached  upon 
each  other,  that  the  emperor  quitted  his  duty  to 
attend  to  matters  of  religion,  which  did  not  con- 
pern  him,  and  that  the  bifhops  were  occupied  in 
temporal  affairs.  The  fame  complaint  of  the  in^ 
terference  of  the  two  powers  was  made  at  the  coun* 
pil  of  Paris  in  the  year  following,  and  in  the  fe- 
pond  council  of  Aix  la  Chapelle  in   a.  d.  836. 

In  theconteft  between  the  temporal  and  fpiri^ 
tual  powers,  we  do  not  wonder  to  find  the  latter 
repref^nted  as  fupcrior  to  the  former.  Pope  Gre- 
gory having  taken  the  part  of  Lothaire  again  ft 
his  father  Lewis,  and  accompanied  him  into  France 
addrelTed  a  letter  to  the  bifhops  who  favoured  the 
father,  iq  which  he  maintained  that  the  ecdefidfli- 

^5  cai 


^8?  THE  HISTORY  GF        Per.  XVI. 

cal  authority  was  fuperlor  to  the  fecular,  and  that 
on  this  occafion  they  ought  to  obey  him  rather 
than  the  emperor.  Pope  Nico'as,  writing  to  the 
king  of  Bulgaria,  fays,  "  You  laymen  ought  not 
*'  to  judge  the  pricfts,  or  any  of  the  clergy,  nor  ex- 
*'  amine  their  lives.  You  muft  leave  all  to  the 
*,'  judgment  of  the  bifhops." 

1  he  fame  pope,  who  approached  very  near  to 
the  charaSler  of  Gregory  VII,  made  bifhops  the 
judges  even  of  kings.  Writing  to  Adventius  hi- 
fhop  of  Metz,  he  fays,  "  You  fay  you  fubmit  to 
^'  your  king  as  your  fuperior.  But  firft  fee  that 
*«  thofe  kings  and  princes  be  fo  in  reality.  See 
'*  that  they  condufi;  themfelves  well.  Otherwjfe 
*'  they  are  to  be  confidered  as  tyrants,  and  not 
**  kings,  and  ought  to  be  refifted,  and  not  fubmit- 
«« ted  to."  This,  as  Fieury  fays,  was  making  them 
ludges  whether  the  princes  were  tyrants  or  not,  and 
not  only  the  bifhops,  but  all  fubje6ls  ;  for  the 
reafon  applies  to  all.  Vol.  ii,  p.  76.  Hincmar, 
archbifhop  of  Rheims  being  threatened  by  king 
Lewis  if  he  would  not  ordain  Odacre  bifhop  of 
Beauvais,  perlifted  in  his  refufal,  and  faid  in  an- 
fwer,  "  It  is  not  you  who  have  chofen  me  bifhop 
"  to  govern  the  church,  but  it  is  I  who,  with  my 
"  colleagues  and  other  chriftians,  have  chofen  you 
"  to  govern  the  kingdom,  on  condition  that  you 
"  obferve  the  laws." 

Fulk 


I.EP.  VL     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH*        asz 

Fulk,  another  archbifhop  of  Rheims,  pioceed-s 
cd  further  than  this.  For  being  informed  that 
Pharles  the  Simple  intended  to  make  peace  with 
the  Normans,  he  wrote  to  difluade  him  from  it, 
threatening  that  if  he  did,  he  would  renounce  his 
allegiance  to  him,  and  perfuade  as  many  as  he 
could  to  do  the  fame,  and  that  joining  with  his 
JDrethern,  he  would  condemn  him  to  an  eternal 
anathema.  What  is  more  extraordinary,  prince* 
leem  to  have  acknowledged  the  power  of  the  bi- 
Ihops  to  depofe  them.  For  at  the  council  of  Sa- 
voniers,  held  in  a.  d.  859,  Charges  the  Bald  com- 
plained that  Vanelon  archbifhop  of  Sens  had 
broken  his  promife  not  to  depofe  him  from  his 
yoyal  dignity,  at  leaft  without  the  bifhops  who  had 
joined  him  in  his  confecration. 

One  inftrument  of  the  power  gf  the  bifhops 
over  princes  was  their  making  them  fubmit  to  do 
penance,  which  according  to  the  canons  of  the 
(Council  of  Nice,  and  the  decretals  of  pope  Sirici- 
us,  difqualified  them  for  bearing  arms.  The  em- 
peror Lewis  being  overpowered  by  his  fons,  they 
sind  their  partifans,  made  him  undergo  a  public 
penance,  that  he  might  be  afterwards  deemed  inca- 
pable of  reigning.  Among  other  offences,  he  con- 
teffed  that  he  had  marched  his  troops  without  ne- 
ceffity  in  lent,  and  that  he  had  fixed  on  holy  thurf- 
day  for  the  meeting  of  a  parliament.     This,    fay^ 

Fieuryc, 


«S*  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVL 

Fleury,  is  the  fecond  attempt  of  the  ecclefiaflical 
power  over  the  fecular,  the  firfl;  being  that  in  the 
cafe  of  Vamba  in  Spain,  mentioned  before.  In 
both  thefe  cafes,  however,  the  power  of  the  church 
would  have  availed  nothing  without  power  of  a 
temporal  kind.  But  the  laity  were  not  aware  of 
the  advantage  which  they  gave  the  clergy  in  mak- 
incr  this  ufe  of  their  fpiritual  weapons  to  ferve  their 
own  purpofes. 

There  was  great  caufe  of  complaint  in  this  pe- 
riod on  account  of  the   appaintment  of  improper 
perfons  to  bifhopricks.     Tho'  the  emperor  Lewis. 
m  the  parliament  at  Attigni,  in  a.  d.  822,  reftorcd 
the  cleftion  of  bifhops  to  the  clergy   and   people, 
forbidding  the  interference  of  any  prince,  yet  it  ap- 
pears that,  in  many  cafes,  the  bifhoprics  were  con- 
fidered   as    the  property  of   the  king  or  the  great 
lords,  and  difpofed  of  without  any   regard  to  the 
choice  of  the  people.     On   the   death  of  Seulph 
archbifhop  of  Rheims  in  a.   d.  925,   fuppofed   to 
have  been  poifoned  by  Hebert  count  of  Verman- 
dois,  his  fon  Hughes,  a  child  of  five  years  old,  was 
made  bifliop,   and  the  eleftion  was    confirmed  by 
pope  John  X,  Abbon  bifhop  of  SoifTons  difcharg- 
ing  the  cpifcopal  funftions  for  him.    Hebert  after- 
wards employed  Odalric  archbifhop  of  Aix  to  per- 
form the  fpiritual  fundions  ;  and  while  he  enjoy- 
ed th^  temporalites,  he  lived  with  his  wife  in  fhe 

epif' 


Sit.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  285 

epifccpal  piilaee.  Afterwards,  Roul  king  of 
France  quarrelling  with  him,  Hughes  was  expell* 
cd  from   the  fee,  and  another  wab  chofen  in   his 

place. 

Atton  of  Verceil,  in  his  letters  of  difcipline^ 
complains  of  patrons  for  giving  bilhopricks  accor- 
ding to  the  riches,  the  relationfhip,  or  fervices,  of 
the  candidate,  bringing  up  their  children  for  them  ; 
and  he  humouroufly  notes  the  ridicule  attending 
the  examination  of  fuch  children,  who  were  taught 
to  repeat  their  anfwers  by  heart,  or  read  in  a  pa- 
{)er,  which,  he  fays,  was  held  with  trembling 
hands,  for  fear  of  lofing  the  preferment ;  thofe 
who  put  the  queftions  to  them  well  knowing  that 
they  did  not  underfland  what  they  were  faying,  and 
who  only  put  the  ufual  queftions  in  order  to  obferve 
the  canonical  forms,  thus  committing  injuflice  ia 
the  guife  of  truth.  Vol.  1 2.  p.  112.  Thofe  bifhops, 
he  adds,  who  were  ordained  contrary  to  the  rules 
*vere  accufed  without  refpe6t,  unjullly  oppreffed, 
perfidioufly  expelled,  and  fometimes  cruelly  put 
to  death.  We  are  not  furprizsd  that,  in  this  ftate 
of  things,  at  the  ignorance  of  fome  bifhops.  Fre- 
culph  bifhop  of  Lifieux  had  not  an  intire  bible. 

We  have  an  example  of  another  kind  of  irre- 
gulaiity  in  the  church  of  Conftantinoplc,  where 
Tryphon  was  chofen  in  a.  d.  928,  till  Theophy- 
la6l  the  fon  of  the  emperor  Romanus  fhould  be  of 

a  pr©- 


fi^  THE  History  of      Pe*.  xvt' 

a  proper  age  to  be  advanced  to  that  dignity.  This,' 
fays  Fleury,  was  the  firfl  example  of  this  fpecies 
df  abufe. 

We  do  hot,  that  I  i^emem'bcr,  read  of  any  plu^ 
ralities  till  this  period,  but  there  is  a  remarkable 
<E?cample  of  this  abufe  in  ManafTeh  archbifhop  of, 
Aries,  a  relation  of  king  Hugo,  getting  himfelf 
made  bifhop  of  Verona,  Mantua,  and  Trent. 

Tranflations  were  as  yet  very  rare,  tho*  ir* 
ttther  refpefls  the  antient  cuftoms  in  the  appoint-* 
ments  of  bilhops  were  violated.  On  the  death  of 
Venilon  archbifhop  of  Sens,  the  pope  made  fome 
difficulty  of  admitting  Egilon,  a  monk  in  another 
diocefe,  to  fucceed  him;  it  having  been  an  eftablifh- 
ed  rule,  that  the  place  of  every  bifhop  fhould  be 
filled  by  fome  of  the  clergy  of  the  fame  churchy 
or  from  another  if  no  perfon  in  it  fhould  be  found 
capable.  But  the  contrary  praftice,  Fleury  fays," 
was  now  become  common  in  France, 

When  bifhoprics  and  abbacies  were  chiefly 
cfefired,  and  beflowed,  as  offices  of  power  and  pro- 
fit, we  do  not  wonder  that  the  pofTeffors  of  theni 
lived  in  all  refpefls  like  other  great  lords,  and 
that  many  of  them  flill  bore  arms.  At  a  battle  iri 
the  fouth  of  France  in  a,  d,  844,  Ebioin  bifhop 

6t 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  %%i 

of  Poitiers,  and  chaplain*  to  king  Charles,  and 
alfo  Lupus  abbot  of  Ferriers,  were  taken  prifoners  ; 
io  that  even  abbots,  tho"  priefls  and  bifhops,  bore 
arms  like  other  lords,  pretending  that  they  were 
oblioed  to  do  fo  on  account  of  their  fiefs.  In 
fad,  little  regard  was  paid  to  the  regulations  of 
Charlemagne  on  this  fubje£l. 

Much  complaint  was  made  by  the  priefls  of  the  ■ 
opprefiion  of  their  bifhops  in  their  vifitations  at 
Thoufoufe  in  A.  d.  360,  when,  by  the  order  di 
kincT  Charles,  fevera-1  regulations  were  made  to  re- 
medy the  evil.  At  a  council  at  Conflantinople  irt 
A.  D.  870,  archbifhops  were  forbidden,  on  the 
pretence  of  vifitations,  to  live  without  neceflity 
upon  their  fufFragans,  thus  confuming  the  reve- 
nues of  the  churches  under  them.  Metropolitans 
were  alfo  forbidden  to  get  their  duty  done  by  their 
fufFragans  while  they  attended  to  temporal  affairs. 
Here  we  fee,  fays  Fieury,  why  thofe  bifhops  were 
called  fufFragans.  Vol.  11.  p.  261. 

Greater  complaint  flill  was  made  in  this  pe- 
riod of  the  debauched  lives  that  many  of  the  clergy, 
who  were  not   allowed  to    marry.       In  the  Ca- 

pitu- 

*  The  word  cA«/7/am  was  derived  from  the  cufloKl 
of  the  kings  of  France  carrying  the  cap  of  St.  Martia 
with  them  to  batde,  hoping  by  its  means  to  gain  the 
viaory,  and  a  prieft  had  the  charge  of  it.    Fkurrj^  Vol,' 
10.  p.  49. 


gg§  tHE  HISTORY  OF    -  Per.  XVL 

|)itulary  of  Hincmat,  compofed  in  a.  d.  852, 
there  are  fo  many  injunftions  againft  the  clergy 
having  any  communication  with  women,  that 
Fleury  fays,  there  is  reafon  to  fear  there  was 
much  irregularity  in  that  refpefl-.  At  the  coun- 
cil of  Mayence  in  a.  d.  888  priefts  were  forbid- 
den to  lodge  with  any  woman  whatever,  becaufe 
fome  had  been  found  to  have  children  by  their 
bwrt  fifters.  Alton  of  Verceil,  in  his  letters  of 
difcipline,  cOiifiplains  that  many  of  the  clergy  main- 
tained two  concubines,  with  whom  they  lived 
Jjublickly,  that  thefe  women  governed  the  houfe, 
and  alter  their  death  inherited  what  they  had 
amaffed  of  the  goods  of  the  church,  and  the  dona- 
tions of  the  faithful.  Thi>,  fays  he,  gave  occa- 
lion  to  theofficerj)  of  judice  to  enter  the  houfes  of 
the  clergy,  on  pretence  of  removing  thofe  women 
and  their  children,  the  canons  having  cpndernncd 
fuch  concubines  to  fervitude.  To  enrich  thofe 
women  and  their  families,  he  fays,  "  the  clergy 
"  become  avaritious,  plunderers,  ufurpers,  and 
*'  cheats,  which  cools  the  devotion  of  the  people, 
*'  and  prevents  their  paying  their  tithes ;  fo  that 
*'  the  lower  clergy  are  fo  poor,  that  they  are  hardly 
*'  able  to  fubfift.  When  the  bifliops/'  he  fays, 
*'  reprove  them  for  thefe  dilorders,  they  often  re- 
"  volt  againft  them,  feek  the  protedion  of  power- 
,"  ful  lords,    and  oftea  take  part  with  the  enemies 

<'of 


^EcVi.  THE  christian' CI-IURCii.  239 

^'-of  the  church,  and  fome  v/ould  excufe  them- 
*'  felves  by  fa}  ing  they  could  not  live  without  wo- 
''  men. 

Alvarus  Pelagius  in  a  treatife  intitled  Tke  Coin-- 
plaints  of  the  church,  fays,  It  were  to  be  wifhed 
that  the  clergy  had  never  vowed  chaftity,  efpe- 
cially  thofe  in  Spain,  where  the  fons  of  the  laity 
are  not  more  numerous  than  the  fons  of  the  clergy, 
Mojheim,  Vol.  2.  p.  165. 

That  thefe  irregularities  Were  not  confined  to' 
the  Wefi,  we  fee  in  the  account  of  TheophyIa6l 
i)atriarch  of  Conftant«nop]c,  who  died  in  a.  d, 
^56,  which,  in  order  to  give  a  faithful  pi61ure  of 
the  age,  I  think  ought  not  to  be  omitted.  It  is, 
however,  a  lingular  cafe,  and  in  any  other  than 
a  fon  of  the  emperor  would  not  have  been  borne. 
At  the  age  of  fixteen  he  was  put  in  poffeffion  of 
this  dignity,  and  held  it  twenty-three  years. 
While  he  was  under  the  care  of  another  he  ap- 
peared difcreet  and  moderate,  but  when  his  tutors 
were  difmiffed  he  abandoned  himfelf  to  the 
moft  fliameful  and  criminal  anions.  He  fet  to 
fale  all  eccleiiaPtical  promotions,  he  had  the  mod 
violent  paffion  for  hunting  and  horfes,  of  which 
fie  had  more  than  two  thoufand,  and  he  fed  them 
not  with  hay  and  barley,  but  with  almonds,  dates, 
raifins,  and  other  delicacies,  with  figs  dipped  in 
the  fined  wines,  &c.  As  he  was  celebrating  mafs 
Vol.  III.  T  Cii 


390  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI. 

on  a  holy  thurfday,  his  hofller  came  to  tell  him 
that  a  mare  of  which  he  was  particularly  fond  had 
toled,  when  he  was  fo  overjoyed,  that  after  get- 
ting thro'  the  litany  as  faft  as  he  poflibly  could,  he 
ran  to  the  ftable  to  fee  the  foal,  and  returned  to 
the  great  church  to  finifh  the  fervice.  He  intro- 
duced the  cuftom  of  dancing  in  churches  on  the 
great  feflivals,  with  indecent  geftures,  and  com- 
mon fongs.  His  death  was  occafioned  by  being 
crufhed  againft  a  wall  as  he  was  riding  full  fpeed 
after  languifhing  two  years.  When  he  recovered 
after  feeming  to  be  at  the  point  of  death,  he  be- 
haved better,  but  afterwards  he  appeared  not  to 
be  at  all  reformed.  He  flill  fold  his  bifhopricks, 
was  fond  of  horfes,  and  lived  an  eflPeminate  life, 
unworthy  of  his  flation.  At  length  his  diforder 
turned  to  a  dropfy  of  which  he  died. 

Notwithftanding  the  ignorance,  fuperftitioH', 
and  extreme  depravity,  of  this  age,  it  was  not 
deflitute  of  good  fenfe  and  real  piety.  In  one  of 
the  memoirs  written  by  Charlemagne  a  little  be- 
fore his  death,  we  find  fome  excellent  obfervations 
on  the  m.anners  of  the  clergy  and  the  monks  of  his 
time,  and  a  jufl  preference  of  good  morals  to  what 
were  ufually  deemed  the  greatefl  virtues  of  the  age. 
Speaking  of  the  cleigy,  he  fays,  "  I  would  afk 
"  them  what  it  is  to  quit  the  world,  and  how  we 
*•'  are  to  diftinguifh  thofe    who  abandon   it  from 

**  thole. 


S'ec.vl  the  christian  churSh.       bi 

**  thofe  who  remain  in  it,  if  it  be  that  they  only  db 
*'  not  carry  arms,  and  are  not  married  publickly  j 
"  if  he  who  has  abandoned  the  world  ceafe  not 
*'  to  increafe  his  poffefTions  every  day,  and  by  all 
^  means,  promifihg  paradice,  or  threatening  hell; 
''  employing  the  names  ot  the  faints  to  perfuade 
*'  fimple  people  to  part  with  their  wealth,  and  de- 
*'  prive  their  lawful  heirs  ;  who  beirig  thus  reduced 
"  to  poverty,  think  public  robbery,  and  all  crimes, 
*'  permitted  to  them  ?  Ol  what  ufe,"  fays  he,  "  is 
"  it  to  the  church,  that  the  fuperior  of  a  commu- 
**  tiity  is  more  delirous  to  have  a  great  number  of 
"  fubjefts,  than  to  have  them  good,  and  to  have 
*'  them  fing  and  read  well,  than  to  have  them  live 
♦'  well  ?  For  tho'  care  ought  to  be  taken  about 
"  reading  and  finging,  the  perfe6lion  of  morals  is 
*'  of  greater  importance  ;  and  tho'  it  is  a  good 
*'  thing  that  churches  be  built,  and  ornamented, 
I*'  the  ornament  of  virtue  is  preferable,"  Fleiirj^ 
Vol.  to.  p.  g6o 

We  are  !iot  to  coflclude  frorrt  the  diffolut^ 
lives  ot  feme  of  the  clergy,  that  the  whole  body 
was  fo  corrupt.  On  (he  contrary,  I  have  no  doiibt 
but  that  the  majority  of  them  had  fuch  virtues  as 
tvere  held  in  efteem  in  that  age,  and  decent  good 
morals  were  never  wholly  overlooked  in  the  mofl 
fuperftitious  times.  They  could  net  oiherwife 
iiave  had  any  degree  of  credit  with  the  people,  an4 

T  3  the 


292  ::j:ITHE  history  of        Per.  xvt 

a 

the  religion  they    taught  would  have   been   ex- 
ploded. 

As  a  fpecimen  of  the  better  fort  of  the  clergy 
of  this  period,  I  ftiall  mention  fome  particulars  of 
the  life  of  Udalric,  bifhop  of  Augfburg.  After 
the  death  of  Henry  the  Fowler,  he  declined  going 
to  court,  or  to  lead  his  troops  in  perfon,  having 
devolved  that  duty  on  Adalberon  his  nephew,  and 
'  gave  himfelf  wholly  to  his  fpiritual  fundions.  He 
recited  the  office  every  day  with  the  clergy  of  his 
cathedral,  and  moreover  the  office  of  the  virgin, 
and  of  the  crofs,  and  alfo  that  of  all  the  faints,  be- 
fides  feveral  pfalms,  and  the  whole  pfalter  every 
day,  or  as  much  as  he  could.  Every  day,  he  faid 
one  mafs,  and  fometimes  two  or  three  maffes.  He 
obferved  all  the  rules  of  the  monaftery,  lying  on  a 
matt,  wearing  no  linen,  and  eating  no  flefh,  tho' 
it  was  feived  in  abundance  to  his  guefts.  The 
greateft  part  of  the  firft  courfe  at  his  table  was^ 
diftributed  to  the  poor,  or  invalides  of  all  forts, 
who  were  fed  every  day  in  his  prefence.  He 
chearfully  exercifed  hofpitality  to  all  perfons, 
^fpecially  the  clergy,  the  monks,  and  the  nuns, 
and  he  took  great  care  of  the  education  and  in- 
ftruftion  of  his  clergy.  He  heard  \vith  great  kind- 
nefs  the  complaints  of  the  ferfs  of  his  eilates,  both 
a'Tainft  their  lords  his  vafl'als,  or  other  ferfs,  and 
■lefolutely  did  them  juftice.      He  was  never  idle, 

but 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ag$ 

but  always  employed  in  regulating  his  canons  or 
his  fchool,  providing  for  the  maintenance  ot  his 
family,  repairing  or  ornamenting  his  church,  or 
fortifying  his  city  againft  the  frequent  incurfions 
of  the  Hungarians.  He  regularly  vifired  his  dio- 
cefe  in  a  carriage  drawn  by  oxen ;  not  that  he  ob- 
jefted  to  riding,  but  that  he  might  have  the  com- 
pany of  his  chaplain,  and  that  they  might  fing 
pfalms.  For  he  always,  went  wiih  a  great  com-* 
pany  of  priells  and  other  clergy,  alfo  of  laymen 
from  among  his  vaiTals,  chofen  ferfs  of  his  own 
family,  and  poor  perfons,  and  dehayed  all  their 
expences.  On  his  vifitations  he  preached,  heard 
complaints,  examined  the  pricfls,  confirmed,  and 
fometimes  continued  all  night  in  the  churches, 
without  even  difmiffing  the  people. 

It  is  to  be  obferved  that  an  aUention  to  the 
ferfs  was  expe£led  of  the  clergy.  Every  bilhop 
or  abbot  was  to  give  liberty  to  three  of  them,  and 
at  a  council  held  in  England  in  a.  d.  817,  it  was 
ordered  that  when  a  bifhop  died,  befides  giving  a 
tenth  of  his  effe6ls  to  the  poor,  all  his  flaves,  or 
villeins,  of  the  Englilli  nation  (liould  be  fet  free. 


T  3  SECTION 


204  THE  HISTGRY  QF        Per.  3^Vlv 


»»T  a 


<.^<. 


SECTION  yii. 

Of  tht  Popci  in  this  Period. 


s 


OME  acceflion  was  gained  to  the  temt 
poralities  of  the  papal  fee  in  this  period.  On  the 
^leaion  of  Pafchal  a.  p.  817,  the  emperor  Lewis, 
befides  confirming  the  donations  of  Pepin  and 
Charlerpa^ne,  added  to  them  the  city  and  duchy 
of  Rome,  with  the  ifles  of  Sardinia  and  Corfica, 
Still,  however,  the  emperor  retained  the  fovereign- 
ty  of  all  thofe  flates,  and  confirmed  the  eleftiori 
of  the  popes  before  their  confecration.  But  Charley 
the  Bald  in  a.  d.  876  granted  the  fovereignty  of 
Rome  to  the  Apoftolic  fee.  Giannone,  Vol.  ?, 
p.  265- 

If  the  emperor  claimed  the  right  of  confirming 
the  ele6iion  of  the  popes,  the  popes,  in  return, 
foon  availed  themfelves  of  the  part  they  performed 
in  the  ceremony  of  the  confecration  of  princes,  tp 
affume  a  right  to  difpofe  of  their  crowns.  Pope 
Nicolas,  writing  to  the  bilhops  of  Charles  the 
Bald,  fays,  "  Let  not  the  emperor  turn  againft  the 
?'  faithful  the  f  ord  which  he  received  from  the 
^'  vicar  of  St.  Peter.  Let  him  govern  the  king- 
*i  dQm  which  l^as  fallen  to  him  by  fuccelfion,  con- 
'  ~  '-  firme4 


Sec.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  295 

'^  firmed  by  the  authority  of  the  holy  fee,  and  by 
*'  the  crown  which  the  fovereign  pontiff  has  put 
*'  upon  his  head." 

As  far  as  circumftances    favoured   them,    the 
popes  were  always  ready  to  carry  their  pretenlions 
into  aft.     This  appeared  in  the  hiftory  of  Lothaire 
king  of  Lorrain.       His  wife  Thetberge,    having 
confefled  that  fhe  had  been  debauched  by  her  own. 
brother  before  her  ftiarriage,    was  repudiated  by 
order  of  the  bifhops  in  council,    and  he  married 
Valdrade.     Thetberge,  however,  having  interefted 
pope  Nicolas  in  her  favour,  he  compelled  Lothaire 
to  take  her  again,  and  excommunicated  Valdrade. 
The  king  even  wrote   a  very  fubmiffive  letter   to 
the  pope,    begging  that  he  would  not  raife  above 
him  any  of  his  equals  tp  eftablifh   themfelves   in 
his  flates ;  dreading,  as  the  hiftorian  fays,    left  his 
uncles  Ihould  take  advantage  of  his  fituation.   This 
pope,  writing  to  Thetberge,    who   had  delired  to 
be  divorced  from  her  hufband,     and  come  to  live 
at  Rome,    difluaded  her  from  it ;     faying,    that  if 
Lothaire  fhould  make  any    attempt  upon  her  life, 
of  which  fhe  was  apprehenfive,  it  would  be  to  put 
himfelf  and  his  kingdom  mto  peril,   as  fhe  had  not 
only  innocence,  but  the  protection  of  the  church 
and  the  people  of  the  holy  fee. 

On  the  death  of  this  Lothaire,    pope  Adrian 

declared  that  '•'  if  any  perfon  oppofed  the  juft  pre- 

,  T  4  *•  teufions 


|g5  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVi. 

"  tenfions  of  the  emperor  to  the  fucceflion,  let 
f*  him  know  that  the  holy  fee  is  for  this  prince, 
**  and  that  the  arms  which  God  has  put  imto  our 
"  hands  are  prepared  for  his  defence."  Thus, 
fays  Fleury,  did  the  pope  make  himfelf  the  arbiter 
of  crowns.  W  hen,  notv/ithftanding  this  threat 
of  the  pope,  Charles  feized  the  ftates  of  his  brother 
X-othaire,  Adrian  wrote  to  him,  infifting  on  his 
giving  them  up  to  his  brother,  the  lawful  hdir, 
who  was  then  fighting  againft  the  Saracens  ;  fay- 
ino-,  that  after  the  third  admonition,  "  we  will 
*'  ourfelves  come  upon  the  place,  and  do  what 
"  belongs  to  our  miniflry."  He  likewife  admo- 
:pifhed  the  bifhops  to  refufe  him  the  communion 
if  he  did  not  obey.  However  Hincmar  archbifliop 
of  Rheims  replied  with  great  fpirit  to  the  pope, 
telling  him,  that  he  could  not  be  at  the  fame  time 
kina,  and  biihop,  that  his  predecefTors  regulated 
the  church,  but  not  the  ftate,  which  belonged  to 
the  kings.  "  If/'  fays  he,  "  the  pope  will  pro- 
"  cure  peace,  let  him  not  excite  quarrels ;  for  he 
f  will  not  perfuade  us  that  we  cannot  arrive  at  the 
*' kingdom  of  heaven  without  receiving  the  king 
^'  that  he  gives  us  on  earth." 

In  this  period  we  meet  with  the  firfl  mention 
of  the  donation  of  Conllantinc  to  the  fee  of  Rome, 
pow  univerfally  allowed  to  be  a  forgery.      ^Eneas 
bifhoD  of  Paris,  writing  on  the  fubjeQ  of  the  dif- 
ferences 


Sec.  Vri.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  SD^ 

terfences   between  the    Latin  and  Greek  churches, 
fays  that  when  the  emperor  Conftantine  became  a 
Chriflian,  he  left  Rome  ;  faying,  *'  it  was  not  conr 
'  venient  for  two  emperors,    one  the  prince  of  the 
*  earth,    and  the  o.her  of  the  church,    to  govero 
'  in  the  fame  city."       He  therefore  fixed  his  refi- 
(dence  at   Conllantinople,  and  gave   Rome  and  a 
great  part  of  feveral  provinces  to  the  apoftohc  fee ; 
thus  inverting  the  Roman   pontiff  with  royal  au- 
thority,    and  caufed  an  authentic  a6l  of  it   to  be 
drawn  up,  and  univerfally  difperfed. 

The  only  rival  of  the  pope  in  thfs  period  wa^ 
the  patriarch  of  Conflantinople  ;  but  of  his  pre-r 
tenfions  pope  Nicolas  made  very  light.  Writino- 
to  the  king  of  Bulgaria,  who  was  lately  become  a 
Chriftian,  and  wifhed  to  know  to  which  of  the  two 
churches  he  was  to  be  fubjefl,  he  fays,  "  The 
"  true  patriarchs  are  thofe  who  govern  the  churches 
"  that  were  founded  by  the  apoftles,  viz.  thofe  of 
"  Ronie,  Alexandria,  and  Antioch.  The  bifhops 
"  of  Conllantinople,  and  of  Jcrufalem,  have  the 
f  n4me,  but  not  the  fame  authority  ;  for  the  church 
"  of  Conllantinpple  was  not  founded  by  any  of 
f  the  apoftles,  and  the  bilhop  of  Jcrufalem  wa^ 
*'  only  ftiled  a  bifliop,  and  not  a  metropolitan, 
'•  by  the  council  of  Nice.  But  next  to  Rome, 
*'  was  the  patriarch  of  Alexandria."  Not'.vith- 
ilandig  thefe  high  pretenfions,    and  every  means 

T  5  that 


^§3  'i  HE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XVI. 

that  the  popes  had  recourfe  to  for  the  prurpofe, 
^hey  did  not  fucceed  in  gaining  the  fuperintendancc 
gf  the  churches  in  Bulgaria.  For  the  Bulgarians 
received  tl^eir  bilhops  from  the  Greek  church.  ^ 

The  power  of  the  pope  in  ecclefiaftical  mat- 
ters, tho'  allowed  to  be  extenfive,  was  never  ex- 
adlly  defined,  and  therefore  was  fometimes  difputed 
by  the  bilhops,  efpecially  when  fupported  by  the 
temporal  powers.  But  fometimes  by  argument 
in  this  ignorant  age,  and  fometimes  by  policy, 
the  popes  generally  carried  every  point  in  the 
end. 

Pope  Nicolas,  in  anfwer  to  the  fynodical  let- 
ter of  the  council  of  Senlis,  in  a.  d.  863,  fays, 
*'  When  the  laws  are  contrary  to  the  canons,  thefe 
«'  pught  to  prevail,  but  appeals    to  the  holy  fee 


"were 


*  The  bilhops  of  Rome  had  no  authority  over  the 
Spanifti  church  till  the  eighth  century.  The  proof  of 
this  is  taken  from  forty  fynods  held  between  a.  d.  324 
and  694,  none  of  which  were  affembled  by  the  bilhops 
of  Rome,  in  v/hich  he  had  no  reprefentative,  and  which 
were  notified  to  him  for  his  approbation.  In  fome  of 
them  ke  was  not  fo  much  as  mentioned,  and  tho'  in 
them  many  canons  were  made  for  the  regulation  of  ec- 
clefiaflical  hierarchies,  there  is  not  the  leall  mentioii  of 
the  papal  fupremacy  in  them.  Robinson^  p,  173  froi^ 
Geddss'a  Tracts.  Vol.  2. 


Sec.  VII,  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         m9 

f  wer^  eftablifhed  by   the  council  of   Sardica.  ^ 

V'  We  will  defend  till  dpth  the  privileges  of  our 

**  fee,  and  you  youifelves  have  an  intereft  in  it», 

^*  How  do  you  know  but  what  has  happened  tQ 

''.Rothade    (who  had  been  depofed  in  a  council 

*'  in  France,  anci  whofe  p^rt  was  taken  by  the  pope) 

"  to  day,  may  happen  to  you  to-morrow  ;  and  in 

^'  that  cafe  to  whom  would  yon  have  recourfe  ?"' 

Writing  tq  all  tlie  biihops  of  Gaul,  the  fame  pope 

fays,  "  Some  of  you  fay  that  the  decretals  are  not 

t'  among  the  canons.     But  if  we  reje6l  the  decrees 

*'  of  the  antient  popes,  becaufe  the)'-  are  not  among 

*'  the  canons,  we  mull  reje6l  the  writmgs  of  Gre, 

"'  gory*    ^^^  t^e  other  popes,    and  even  the  holy 

*'  fcriptures."     He  then  proceeds  to  prove  by  the 

*'  authority  of  Leo  and  GeUfiUs,  that  all  the  de, 

cretals  of  the  popes  ought  to  he  received  without 

exception.     At  this  time  it  was  uuiverfally  allowed 

that  the  canons  of  the  general  councils  were  of  the 

liighell  authority,    equal  to  that  of  the  fcriptures; 

and    the    authenticity  ot  the   decretals  was   un-, 

(juellioned. 

Not^ 

*  The  fourth  canon  of  this  council,  fuppofing  It  to 
be  genuine,  related  only  to  the  particular  caic  of  4 
biihop  depofed  by  the  neighbouring  prelates  ^  \v-hen  h 
was  ordered  that  another  ihoaid  not  be  appointed  tillth^ 
bjfhop  of  Rome  had  examined  the  caufe,  and  p^^s 
jiounced  fcnt>;^ce.    MQs/icim,  Vol,  J.  p,  2^8, 


^00  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVT. 

Notxvithftanding  the  almoft  impofTibility  of 
convi£ling  a  priell  of  any  crime,  on  account  of 
the  evidence  required  for  it,  he  ftill  had  a  remedy 
in  an  appeal  to  Rome.  The  clergy  of  Bretagne  hav- 
ing confulted  Leo  IV  in  a.  d.  848  about  what  was 
to  be  done  with  fimoniacal  priefts,  he  faid  they 
ought  to  be  depofed,  but  only  in  a  council,  and 
hy  twelve  bilhops,  and  on  the  evidence  of  feventy 
perfons;  and  if  the  perfon  accufed  demand  to  be 
heard  at  RomCj  he  mufl  be  fent  thither. 

This  period  furnifhes  feveral  inftances  of  the 
popes  difpenfing  with  the  obligation  of  oaths ;  and 
jt  feems  to  have  been  generally  taken  for  granted, 
that  they  had  this  power,  as  being  included  in  that 
of  binding  and  looftng  given  to  Peter.  The  em- 
peror Lewis  having  been  compelled  by  the  duke 
of  Benevento,  who  had  hirn  in  his  power,  never 
to  come  in  arms  upon  his  lands,  he  applied  to 
pope  Adrian  to  abfolve  him  from  his  oath.  The 
requefl  being  complied  with,  he  marched  agajnll 
the  duke,  who  being  fupported  by  the  Greeksj 
was  not  eafily  conquered. 

Pope  John  VIII  being  much  diHrelTed  by  the 
incuifions  of  the  Saracens,  in  confequence  ot  a 
treaty  they  had  made  with  Sergiusduke  of  Naples, 
urged  the  Neapoli.ans  to  break  that  treaty  ;  fay- 
ing that  fuch  a  peace  was  a  breach  of  the  alhancc 
made  with  Chriil  at  their  baptifm.     But  the  duke, 

notij 


Sec.  VIL  THE  CHRISTIAN  CUVRCli,  S'6i 

notwithftatifiing  the  excommunication' of  « he  pope, 
kept  his  iaith  with  the  Saracens.  When,  after 
this,  his  brother  Athanalius  archbifhop  of  Naples 
feized  him,  put  out  his  eyes,  and  took  poffeffion 
of  the  dukedom,  the  pope  exprefled  his  approba- 
tion of  his  conduft,  prailing  him  for  loving  God 
more  than  his  brother,  and  for  putting  out  the  eye 
which  fcandahzed  the  church.  At  lalt  this  pope, 
bavin cr  no  affi fiance  from  any  prince,  was  himfelf 
obhged  to  make  a  treaty  with  the  Saracens,  en- 
gaging to  pay  them  twenty-five  thoufand  marks  of 
filver  a  yeai'.  Even  in  thefe  circumflances  this 
pope  kept  urging  the  princes  of  Italy  to  break  their 
treaties  with  the  Saracens,  and  in  a.  d.  879  he  ex^ 
communicated  the  people  of  Amalphi  becaufe 
they  would  not  do  it.  However,  in  confequence 
of  the  pope's  exhortations,  Docibilis  the  governor 
of  Gaieta  did  break  his  truce  with  them;  on  wjiich 
many  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed^  and  many 
taken  prifonefs.  This  obliged  him  to  make  a  new 
treaty  with  them,  hy  which  they  got  an  eftablifh- 
ment  on  the  river  Garilian,  where  they  remamecJ 
forty  years,  and  did  incredible  mifchief. 

Athanafms  abovementioned,  whom  the  pope 
had  praifed  for  feiztngthe  poflefTions  of  his  brother, 
and  even  putting  out  his  eyes,  finding  it  necelTary 
to  adhere  to  a  treaty  with  the  Saracens,  the  pope 
excommunicated  him;  and  after  he  had  c«ntinued 

a  yea? 


to2  ttlE  HISTORY  OF        I^er.  XVfc 

a  year  in  that  flate,  he  fubmitted,  and  was  abrolved^ 
on  condition  that,  after  fending  fome  of  the  pri- 
foners  (whofe  names  were  given  him)  to  Rome, 
he  (hould  put  all  the  rcll  to  death ;  a  condition  of 
abfolution,  as  Fleury  obferves,  not  agreeable  to 
the  antient  mildnefs  of  the  church. 

As  the  popes  took  advantage  of  circum[lance?J 
to  advance  their  power,  princes  and  bifhops  did 
the  fame ;  and  fometimes  they  not  only  remon- 
ftrated  againfl  their  ufurpations  with  great  free- 
dom, but  openly  oppofed  them  with  fuccefs. 

At  the  requefl  of  king  Charles,  the  pope  had 
cot  Vulfade  archbifhop  of  Bourges  reftored  at  the 
council  of  SoiflTons  in  a.  d.  866,  notwithftanding 
the  remonftrances  oi  Hincmar,  after  he  had  been 
degraded  at  a  preceding  council.  On  this  occafion 
llincmar  expoflulated  with  the  pope  by  means  of 
the  perfon  who  carried  the  decrees  of  the  council 
to  Rome  ;  faying,  that  "  if  what  they  had  don« 
"  before  would  not  fland,  neither  would  what 
"  they  had  done  then  ;  that  there  would  be  nothing 
*•  to  depend  upon  in  the  decrees  of  bifhops,  or  of 
"  the  popes ;  that  excommunications  would  nat 
*•  be  regarded,  and  that  the  prieR-^  who  were  de- 
'•  pofed  would  ncit  quit   their  fundions,    b-^cauf^ 

■  our  judgments,    and  thofe  of  the  holy  fee,  fo^* 
'=  low  the  wills  of  our  kings,    and  the  movements 

"  of  our  pafifions." 

u 


SecVII.  the  christian  CHtTRCH.  SiSi 

In  A.  D.  864  pope  Nicolas,  in  his  council  at 
Rome,  condemned  a  council  held  at  Metz  in  tha 
year  preceding,  and  depofed  Theugand  archbifhop 
of  Treves,  and  Gonthier  archbifhop  of  Cologne, 
for  having  decided  againft  his  wifhes  in  the  caufe 
of  Lothaire  and  his  wives.  All  the  bilhops  who 
joined  with  them  in  this  bufinefs  the  pope  alfo  de- 
pofed. They  all,  however,  continued  their 
fundions,  without  any  regard  to  the  fsntence  of 
the  pope.  The  emperor  who  favoured  them  was 
fo  provoked  at  his  condu6i,  that  he  went  to  Roms 
with  a  determination  to  compel  him  to  re  (lore  the 
blfhop^  And  Gonthier  wrote  to  all  the  bifhops 
in  the  dominion  of  Lothaire,  defiring  them  "not 
"  to  be  diflurbed  at  the  condu61:  of  Nicolas,  who 
"  was  called  pope,  and  who  confidercd  himfelf  as 
"  an  apoflle  among  the  apollles,  making  hipifelf 
"emperor  of  all  the  world.  Thanks  to  God''* 
fays  he,  "  we  have  refilled  his  folly,  and  he  re- 
' '  pents  of  what  he  has  done."  He  then  complains 
of  the  condu6l  of  the  pope  for  having  condemned 
them  unheard,  and  in  an  irregular  manner,  ac- 
cording to  his  fancy  and  tyrannical  fury.  Ad- 
dreffing  himfelf  to  the  pope,  he  fays,  "  We  will 
*•  not  receive  your  accurfed  fentence;  we  defpife 
"  it  as  a  calumny.  We  reje61:  you  from  ourcom- 
*'  munion  as  communicating  with  thofe  who  are 
"  excommunicated,     and  content    ourfelves  with 


con>" 


V 


206  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV t 

making  himfelf  mafter  of  the  pope*s  perfon,  he 
kept  him  a  prifoner,  without  fufFering  any  perfon 
to  come  to  him,  or  even  carry  him  victuals, 
but  after  much  intreaty.  After  he  left  the  city 
the  pope  excommunicated  him,  with  all  his  ac- 
complices. This  excommunication  was  repealed 
at  the  council  of  Troyes,  where  the  pope  was  pre- 
fent  in  A.  d.  878.  What  eflPed  this  meafure  had 
does  not  appear  •  but  fo  much  was  faid  about  ex- 
communications at  the  council  of  Ravenna  in  a, 
D.  877,  that  it  is  evident,  fays  Fleury,  they  were 
now  much  defpifed.  On  this  journey  to  France  ' 
this  pope  was  treated  with  little  ceremony  by  the 
thieves  of  the  country  ;  for  when  he  was  at  Cha- 
lons his  horfes  were  ftolen  from  him,  and  alfo  a 
lilvercup.  He  revenged  himfelf  as  before  by  excom- 
municating the  thieves,  and  all  their  accomplices. 

Anfpert  archbifhop  of  Milan,  without  any  re- 
gard to  the  excommunication  pubhftied  againA 
him,  at  a  council  held  by  this  pope  at  Rome,  con- 
tinued his  funftions,  and  the  church  of  Verceil 
being  vacant,  he  ordained  one  Jofeph  a  bifhop  of* 
it.  The  pope,  however,  declared  the  ordination 
null,  and  appointed  another  bilhop.  Anfpert 
having  agreed  with  the  pope  about  the  coronation 
of  Charles  le  Gros,  he  was  received  into  favour, 
and  the  pope  even  confirmed  his  ordination  of 
Tofpph  bifliop  of  Verceil  to  the  bifhopric  of  Afti. 

Several 


^EC.VIL  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH*         io7 

Several  perfons  held  doflrines  unfavourable  tS 

the  preterifions  of  the  popes  in  fpiritnal  as  well  as 

temporal  malters.       In  the  capiitulary    of  Heyteri 

fcilhop  of  Bafle,     the  pilgrims  who  went  to  Rome 

were  dire6led  to  confefs  before  they  fet  out,  bccaufe 

he  fays,  they  ought  to  be  bound  or  loofed  by  their 

own  bilhops,     and  not  by  a  flranger ;     meanina 
—  ^"' 

lays  Fleury,    the  pope,    as  well  a;  other  foreicrtl 

o 

bifhops.  Claudius  of  Turin  niamtained  that  th6 
words  of  our  Saviour  to  Peter  had  been  mifunder- 
ftood,  that  the  power  was  only  given  to  him  whild 
he  was  alive,  and  that  the  proper  fuccefTor  of  thd 
iapoftle  is  not  he  who  fills  his  fee,  but  he  who  fol^ 
lows  his  example. 

We  fhall  not  wonder  at  the  oppofitiori  fom^ 
of  the  popes  met  with,  but  rather  that  all  reverencd 
for  the  holy  fee  was  not  wholly  thrown  oflp,  if  we 
attend  to  the  character  and  condu61;  of  fome  of 
them  in  this  period.  As  an  hifloriari,  I  fhall  men- 
tion a  few  particulars  of  their  violent  and  indecent 
behaviour. 

Formofus;  1' mnrt  of  diflin^n'fhed  abilities, 
and  on  that  account  frnnflated  fix^m  the  bifhoprii 
of  Porto  to  the  fee  of  Rome  m  a.  d.  891,  (which 
is  the  firft  inflance  ot  fuch  trarfftation  to  that  fee) 
after  having  been  excommunicated  by  pope  John 
VIII,  and  abfolvcd  by  Martin  IT.  had  an  oppoi. 
isetit  in  Sergius,  who  took  part  wiih  Adelbcrt  duke 

CJ  2  of 


30.8 


THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.XVI. 


of  Tufcany  againfl  Arnulph  acknowledged  to  be 
empsrorby  Formofus.   After  his  death  the  Tufcan 
party  prevailed,    and  raifed  to  the  papacy  Stephen 
VII  bifliop  of  Anagni.'     This  pope  held  a  council, 
in  which    he    produced  the   body  of  Formofus, 
dreffed  in  pontifical  robes,    with  an  advocate   to 
plead  his  caufe.      Then,    after  addrefiing  him  ai 
if  he  had  been  alive,    they  ftripped  him  of  his  ha- 
bit, cut  oflF  three  of  his  fingers,  and  then  his  head, 
and  laftly  threw  the  body  into  the  Tiber.       He 
then  depofed  all  who  had  been  o  "dained  by  For- 
mofus,   and    ordained  them    agam.      This  pope 
was,  however,  himfelf  driven  from  the  papal  fee, 
thrown  into  prifon,    and   flrangled.      Romanus, 
who  fucceededhim  in  a.  d.  tgy,  having  by  means' 
of  feme  fifhermen  got  the  body  of  Formofus,  buried 
it  in  the  fepulchre  of  the  popes,    and    the  bifhops 
who  had  joined  in   the  fcandalous  tranfa6iion  re- 
fpefting  him  were  pardoned  on  their  acknowledging 
that  they  did  it  by  compulficn. 

Leo  V  was  expelled  by  Chriflopher  I;  but 
both  of  them  died  in  prifon.  The  lafl  was  fuc- 
ceeded  by  Sergius,  who  had  oppofed  Formofus, 
having  been  chofen  pope  by  his  party  in  a.  d. 
898  and  expelled ;  but  being  eleQed  again  in  a. 
D.  907,  he  confidered  John  IX  and  the  three  fuc- 
ceeding  popes  as  ufurpers.  He,  as  might  be  ex- 
pcfted,  declared  againft  Formofus,  and  approved 

6f 


Sec.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         309 

of  the  condu6l  of  Stephen  with  refpefl:  to  him; 
In  his  time  one  Theodora,  an  impudent  woman, 
abfolutely  governed  the  city  of  Rome.  She  had 
two  daughters,  Marozia  and  Theodora,  more  dif- 
orderly  than  herfelt.  By  the  form.er  of  them  {M)pe 
Sergius  had  a  fon,  John,  who  was  afterwards  pope, 
and  by  her  hufband  Albert  fhe  had  Alberic,  who 
became  mailer  of  Rome. 

By  the  influence  of  Theodora,  John,  a  clerc 
of  Ravenna,  with  whom  fhe  had  a  criminal  con- 
nexion, and  who  was  afterwards  archbifhop  of  Ra- 
venna, was  made  pope  ir^  a.  d.  914.  This  John 
X  was  thrown  into  prifon  by  Gui  the  governor  of 
Rome,  and  he  died  foon  after,  being  fuppofed  to 
be  ftrangled.  On  the  death  of  Stephen  in  a.  d. 
931,  Marozia,  then  married  to  Gui  the  marquis 
of  Tufcany,  got  her  fon  by  pope  Sergius,  then  on- 
ly twenty-five  years  old,  to  be  made  pope.  He 
was  John  XI,  but  he  was  without  authority,  and 
only  performed  the  ceremonies  of  religion.  Shocked 
as  we  cannot  but  be  by  thofe  enormities,  we  fhall 
fee  greater  in  the  fucceeding  periods  of  this  hiflory. 

Between  the  pontificate  of  Leo  IV  who  died 
A.  D.  855,  and  that  of  Benedi6l  III,  it  was  long 
believed  that  a  woman  of  the  name  of  jfoan,  who 
had  concealed  her  fex,  was  chofen  pope.  After 
llie  reformation  this  was  the  fubjeft  of  much  dif- 
pute,    and  at  this  day  perfons   who   have   taken 

V  3  fn:^c^ 


3iq  THE  HISTORY  OF        Pe^.  Xy|, 

inuch  pains  in  the  enquiry  entertain  doubts  with 
lefpecl  to  it,  notwithdanding  Blondel,  a  learned 
Protcftant;  wrote  to  refute  if.  Thii,  hillory,  if  it 
were  admitted,  would  nO'  be  fo  difgraceful  to  th? 
church  ?-s  the  condu6l  of  feveral  of  tl>e  popes    ii; 

this  period. 

1  ihail  conclude  this  account  of  the  popes  of 
this  period  by  obferving,  that  Oflavian,  the  fon 
of  Alberic,  being  made  pope  after  the  death  of 
iAgapit  II  in  a.  d.  954,  changed  his  name  to  tha^ 
of  John  XIL  and  wa*  the  firft  that  did  fo. 


SECTION  VIII. 

OJ  the  Monks  in  this  Period. 

jL  HEhiftory  of  the  monks  is  remarK- 
able  for  periods  of  great  relaxation  of  difcipline, 
iiacceeded  by  periods  of  great  rigour.  Notwith- 
ilandin<T  the  r.fo'mations  of  the  two  Benedi6ls,  we 
find,  in  this  age  of  general  difordcr,  mu.ch  negled 
and  abufe  with  icefpeft  to  monafteries,  fornetimcs 
Qccafioned  by  the  violence  of  foreign  nations,  as 
the  Saracens,  Normans  und  Huns,  and  fornetimcs 
by  the  depredations  of  Chriftian  lords. 

In  confequence  of  fixty  years  civil  wars,  and 
the  ravages  of  the  Normans,  the  greater  part  of 
ihe  monafteries  in  France  were  ruined,    many  of 

thq 


Sec.  VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         311 

the  monks  were  killed,  and  the  reft  being  put  to 
flight,  led  a  vagabond  diforderly  life.  Some  of 
the  houfes,  thus  abandoned  by  the  monks,  were 
feized  by  the  clergy,  and  others  by  the  lay  lord?. 
In  fome  cafes  even  the  popes  authorized  the  ap- 
propriation of  the  revenues  of  monafteries  for  the 
ufe  of  lay  perfons.  Adrian  II  required  Lothaire 
king  of  Lorrain  to  allow  his  wife  Thetberge  the  ab- 
beys which  he  had  promifed  her  for  her  royal  main- 
tenance; which,  as  Fleury  fays,  was  tacitly  approv- 
ing the  abufe  of  giving  abbeys  to  fecuiar  perfons. 

Before  the  reign  of  Alfred  in  England  the  mo- 
naftic  difcipline  was  intirely  neglected,  owing  to 
the  frequent  irruptions  of  the  Danes,  and  the 
riegligence  of  the  Englifh,  fo  that  no  perfon  of  noble 
birth  voluntarily  became  a  monk  ;  and  tho'  there 
were  many  monafteries  in  the  country,  they  were 
only  filled  with  children,  who  lived  without  any 
regard  to  the  rules  of  the  place.  On  this  account 
Alfred  filled  his  new  monaftery  of  Altenay  with 
foreign  monks,  efpecially  from  France. 

The  reformation  ofmonaftic  difcipline  in  France 
was  undertaken  by  William  duke  of  Aquitain  and- 
Berry.  He  founded  the  monaftery  of  Clugniin 
A.  D.  910,  and  fubjc6led  it  to  the  rules  of  Benedi61:, 
,  making  the  firft  abbot,  Bernon,  a  perfon  of  a  nobis 
family  in  Burgundy,  who  v/as  aftifted  by  Hugo 
from  the  monaftery  of  Autun.      At  firft  BernoT> 

U  4  had 


|1^  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XV^, 

*•"  »  ' 

h^d  no  more  than  twelve  monks,  after  the  example 

of  15  en  eel  1 6t. 

Bcrnon  dying  in  a.  d.  926,  left  the  abbey  o\ 
Clugni  to  his  dilciple  Odo,  the  fon  of  Abbon,  a 
nobleman  of  great  piety,  who  had  dillinguifhe(j( 
liimfeif  by  his  aufterities,  and  his.  application  to 
learning  in  the  monaflery  of  St.  Martin  at  Touts, 
Odo  was  forty  years  old  when  he  was  made  abboj; 
of  Clugni,  and  from  that  time  it  began  to  be  diflin- 
gui filed  from  all  other  monafteries  by  the  exa£l 
obfervance  of  the  rules,  the  emulation  of  virtue 
among  the  monks,  the  fludj  of  religion,  and  cha- 
rity to  the  poor.  Odo  was  employed  to  reforni 
many  other  monafte;ics  in  France  and  Italy,  being 
liimfeif  appointed  abbot  of  them  all,  and  making 
Other  perfons  his  vicars.  In  his  time  the  monaftery 
of  Clugni  received  To  many  donations,  that  it  had 
an  hundred  and  eighty-eight  charters. 

In  the  time  of  Qdo  the  monaflic  difcipline 
was  reftored  in  Bclgic  Gaul  by  Gerard  of  Brogne, 
defcended  of  a  noble  family  near  Namur.  He  re- 
formed more  than  eighteen  monafteries ;  but  be- 
fore he  died  he  appointed  abbots  in  all  the  other 
pionafleries,  and  confined  himfelf  to  thatof  Brogne. 

Another  diftinguilhcd  monk  in  this  period  was 
John,  born  at  Vendieres  between  Metz  and  Toul, 
^nd  afterwards  abbot  of  Gorze,  which  had  been 
^Uiued  hy  the  Normans  3    but  at  firft  he  was  only 

aliiftanfc 


Sec.  yill.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         313i 

affiflant  to  the  abbot  Einold  in  a.  d.  933.  Befides 
giving  greaj:  attention  to  the  fecular  concerns  of  the 
abbey,  he  was  ailidLift"^  i^  ^is  application  to  li- 
terature. 

The  great  reftorer  of  the  monkifh  difcipline  ia 
|!lng]and  was  Diinftan.  He  was  o!  a  noble  family, 
and  was  educated  at  Glailonburv^  where  at  that 
time  fome  Iriiliincn  taught,  bui.  .here  were  no 
monks,  the  kings  having  leized  the  domains.  Oa 
tlie  death  ot  his  parents,  Dunflan  gave  his  eflatq 
^o  the  mpnaftery,  and  he  reformed  five  monafte- 
ries  in  other  places.  He  was  bimfelf  abbot  of  Glaf- 
tonbury,  which  he  built  m  a  magnificent  manner,,^ 
and  it  became  (o  much  diftinguiftied  for  learninoc 
and  piety,  that  a  great  number  of  biftiops  and  ab- 
bots were  tak^n  from  it.  Dunflan  was  afterwards 
bifhop  of  Worcefter,  then  of  Canterbury,  and  le-. 
pate  of  the  holy  fee.  He  was  the  rellorer  of  let* 
ters  as  well  as  of  monallic  difcipline.  With  his 
pondud  as  a  politician,  I  have  no  occafion  to 
xjieddle. 

In  this  period^  as  well  as  in  the  preceding,  we 
find  fome,  tho'  not  fo  many,  examples  of  perfons 
in  high  Rations  retiring  to  monafleries.  Two  fillers 
of  William  dul^e  of  Aquitain,  being  determined, 
according  to  the  language  of  thefe  times,  to  devote 
their  virginity  to  God,  begged  of  him  to  prcfent 
them  in  form  in  the  new  church  which  he  was 
' U  5  fcuildv 


^14  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XV!. 

building  as  an  ob'ation ;  which,  fays  Fleury,  is 
the  fiifl  example  of  adult  perfons  being  prefented 
by  others.  They  formed  a  little  convent  them- 
felves. 

The  fame  duke  William,  when  in  the  highefl: 
favour  with  Charlemagne,  and  with  every  thing 
profperous  about  him,  devoted  himfelf  with  pecu- 
liar folemnity  to  a  monkifh  life  at  Gellene,  and 
fubmittcd  to  all  the  auflerities  of  it.  It  is  faid  that 
he  made  an  hundred  genuflexion^  every  day  be- 
fore the  altar,  often  plunged  in  the  coldeft  water 
by  way  of  purification  before  prayer;  and  to  pre- 
pare himfelf  for  communion  he  fometimes  ufed  fla- 
geHation,  adminift.ered  in  a  private  chamber  by  a 
confidential  friend,  in  memory  of  our  Saviour's 
paffion.  He  lived  this  life  feven  years,  dying  in 
A.  D.  812.  The  monaftery  of  Gellene  was  from 
him  called  St.  Willia^n  of  the  defert. 

The  emperor  Lothaire  took  the  monaftic  habit 
feefore  he  died  in  a,  d.  §53,  and  fo  did  Alphon-c 
fL\,s  IV  king  of  Spain  in  a.  d.  933. 

It  was  not  uncommon  in  this  period  to  unite 
the  two  chara6lers  of  bifliop  and  monk.  Rembert 
who  fuoceeded  Anfcaire  in  the  bifhopricks  of  Ham- 
burgh and  Bremen,  went  after  his  confecration  to 
the  monaftery  of  new  Corbie,  where  he  took  the 
habit,  and  promifed  to  obferve  the  rules  of  Bene- 
dict, as  much  as  his  pailoral  fundions  would  per^. 

mit ; 


^EC.VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.        $u 

mit ;  and  for  twenty-three  years  which  he  lived  af- 
terwards, he  conformed  to  that  ftrifi;  difcipHne,  as 
much  as  if  he  had  hved  in  a  cloifter.  This,  how- 
ever, would  not  have  been  permitted  in  the  Eaft ; 
for  at  a  council  held  at  Conftantinople  in  a^  d, 
880,  it  was  ordered  that  a  bifhop  becoming  a  monk 
ceafed  to  be  a  bifhop. 

Mention  was  made  in  the  preceding  period  of 
the  inftitution  o^  canons  in  cathedral  churches  by 
Chrodogand  bifhop  of  Metz.  In  a.  d.  816  «* 
council  was  held  at  Aix  la  Chapelle,  to  make  re- 
gulations for  them,  and  the  rules  then  agreed 
upon  ferved  for  many  ages  to  diflinguifh  canons 
from  the  reft  of  the  clergy.  Among  other  things 
it  was  then  ordered  that  the  bifhop  fhould  eftablilh 
an  hofpital  to  receive  the  poor,  with  a  fufficient 
revenue  out  of  the  funds  of  the  church.  To  it 
the  canons  were  to  give  the  tythe  of  their  income 
even  of  the  oblations;  and  one  of  them  was  to  be 
the  governor  of  it  for  the  temporalities.  At  Chrift- 
mas  at  le^lt  the  canons  were  to  wafh  the  feet  of  the 
poor,  for  which  reafon  the  hofpital  was  to  be  fa 
fituated,  that  they  might  have  eafy  accefs  to  it, 
f  his,  Fleury  thinks,  is  the  firft  certain  origin  of 
hofpitais  founde4  in  cathedral  churches,  and  iu-^ 
perintended  by  the  canons.  At  the  fame  tima 
rules  were  laid  down  for  cancnefes,  which  much 
^efeinbied  thofe  of  the  nuns.  ,    They  were  allowed 


^jg  TW HISTORY,  OF        Per.  XYI, 

%o  have  property,  and  even  fervants ;  but  they 
were  to  eat  in  the  fame  refeftory,  and  lleep  in  the 
fame  dormitory. 

In  this  period  we  meet  -^.vith  a  new  vd^ie^y  in  the 
monkiih  inflitutions,  viz.  that  oirtclufes  m  moru!fter 
ries  and  nunneries.  Thefe  were  perfons  who  {hut 
themfelves  up  in  particular  ceils  annex-d  to  mu- 
nafteries,  after  making  a  vow  never  to  go  out  of 
them.  No  perfon,  hovs'-ever,  was  permitted  to 
take  this  vow,  but  after  fufiicient  trial,  and  with 
the  permiflion  of  the  bifhop,  or  abbot,  to  which 
the  monaftery  belonged.  After  obtaining  this 
leave,  the  candidates  paffed  a  year  of  trial  in  the 
monaftery;  and  in  this  time  did  not,  on  any  pre- 
tenfe,  go  out  ot  it.  This  term  being  expired, 
they  took  the  vow  of  permanence  in  the  church,  in 
the  prefence  of  the  bifhop,  and  after  the  reclufe 
had  entered  hii.  cell,  the  bifhop  put  his  feal  upon 
the  dcor. 

Thefe  reclufeshad  within  their  cells  every  thing 
that  was  necelfary  for  them.  If  they  were  priefts, 
they  had  oratories  confecrated  by  the  bifhop.  Tlie 
cells  had  windows  locking  into  the  church,  thro* 
which  the  reclufe  could  give  his  offering  for  the 
maffes,  hear  the  fmging,  join  in  it,  and  anfwer 
to  thofe  who  fpoke  to  him;  but  this  window  had 
curtains  within  and  without^  fo  that  the  reclufe 
€0uld  neither  fee,  nor  be  fecn.  He  had,  how- 
ever^ 


Sec.viii.  the  christian  Churgh.      Si^, 

^ver,  a  garden  in  which  he  could  take  the  air  and 
work.  He  had  alfo  a  bath  in  his  ce;l,  which  he 
could  make  ufe  of  whenever  he  thought  proper  ; 
and  this  Vvas  thought  to  be  necsflary  before  com- 
munion. The  reclufes  were  allowed  to  take  what 
was  voluntarily  offered  them,  either  for  their  owri 
Gccafions,  or  to  give  to  the  poor.  If  they  were 
fick,  the  door  of  the  cell  might  be  opened  for  any 
|)erfon  to  acfminifler  to  their  relief;  but  they  i^^ere 
hot  allowed  to  go  out  therhfelves  on  any  pretence 
whatever.  Adjoining  to  thefe  cells  were  others 
appropriated  to  the  difciples  of  the  reclufes,  with 
windows,  by  means  of  which  they  could  either 
minifter  to  them,  or  receive  their  inflruftions. 
Sometimes  there  were  two  or  three  cells  of  reclufes 
together,  whh  fuch  windows  of  communication. 

A  prieft  of  the  name  of  Grimlaic,  probably 
the  perfon  of  that  name  who  was  favoured  by 
pope  Form.ofus,  drew  up  rules  for  thefe  reclufes. 
Complaining  of  the  diforders  of  the  times,  he  k^ 
tnents  the  languor  of  thefe  reclufes.  Their  firfl 
concern,  he  fays,  was  to  inquire  whether  they  would 
have  every  thing  neceffary  for  their  fubfillence. 
He  particularly  recommends  to  them  bodily  labour. 

Nothing  of  any  confequence  occurs  in  this 
period  relating  to  the  monks  in  the  Eafl.  But 
we  cannot  doubt  but  that,  from  fimilar  caufes, 
fhere  were  ftmilar  complaints.    Theodore  Studita, 

in 


T 


Si»  THE  HISTORY  OF      pEr;.  XVL 

In  an  addrefs  to  the  nuns,  advifes  them  not  to  lead 
the  infipid  and  relaxed  lives  of  the  generality  of 
their  profeffion,  who  were  nuns  only  in  appearance. 
We  ftill  read  of  Stilites,  or  perfons  who  paffed 
all  their  time  on  pillars  in  the  open  ak,  in  this 
part  of  the  world,  tho'  ndt  in  the  Wefb.  A  per- 
fon  who  was  examined  on  the  fubje£l  of  the  pa- 
triarch Ignatius,  at  the  cduncil  in  Conflantinaple 
?h  A.  D.  870,  mentioned  his  h-aving  made  his  con- 
feffion  tooneofthefe  flilites.  We  alfo  read  of 
another,  on  whom  St.  Luke  junr.  attended  in  the 
jniddle  of  the  tenth  century. 


SECTION  IX. 

(DJ  the  Siiperjlitions  of  this  Period, 


A: 


S  this  was  an  age  of  great  ignorance,' 
We  are  not  furprized  that  it  abounded  w'vhfuper-i 
Jiidon,  to  the  injury  of  moraliry.  on  which  it  al- 
ways encroajch^'S;  It  appfMis  hv  the  decrees  of 
the  council  of. Cbalo'is  in  a.  d.  8i.c^,  that  feme 
perfons  committed  fins  with  a  view  to  efface  them 
by  alms. 

At  the  council  of  Aries  in    a.  d.  813,    it  was 
ordered  that  the  priefts  (hould  keep  the  chrifm  un- 
der a  feal,  and  not  give  it  10  any  perfon  as  a  me- 
dicine, 


Sec.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  3;, 

dicin£,  or  on  any  other  pretext  whatever.  For 
many  perfons  imagined  that  criminals  who  were 
either  anointed  with  it.  or  who  fsvallcwed  it,  could 
not  be  difcovered. 

By  pilgrimages  it  was  thought  that  perfons  ob- 
tained pardon  for  fins  paft,  and  alfo  to  come. 
The  moft  celebrated  pilgrimages  at  this  time  were 
thofe  to  Rome,  and  to  St.  Martin  at  Tours. 

A  notion  flill  more  dangerous  to  morality, 
and  yet  very  popular,  prevailed  at  this  time,  viz. 
that  the  precepts  of  the  gofpel  were  only  defigned 
for  the  monks,  and  the  clergy.  This  was  noticed, 
and  condemned  at  a  council  held  at  Aix  la  Cha= 
pelle  in  a.  d.  816. 

Many  of  the  firft  converts  to  Chriflianity  among 
the  Danes  did  not  chufe  to  be  baptized  till  near 
the  time  of  their  death,  that  they  might  go  out  of 
the  world  intirely  pure.  This  has  been  obferved 
to  have  obtained  very  much  about  the  time  of  Con- 
ftantine,  who  was  himfelf  iofluenced  by  it ;  but 
we  do  not  read  of  it  from  that  time  to  the  preient. 
In  order  to  die  with  greater  fafcty,  many  perfons 
in  this  age  put  on  the  monaftic  habit  before  they 
expired.  When  tTie  emperor  Lewis  died  in  a.  d. 
840,  a  piece  of  the  true  crofs  was  laid  on  his  breaft. 
Indeed,  it  was  natural  to  fuppofe  that  a  relick 
<vould  have  _  as  mujch  virtue  as  the  drefs  of  a 
hfionk; 

We 


S2t)  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  X"VL 

We  cannot  wonder  that,  in  this  age,  many 
|)erfons  fhould  be  defirous  of  being  buried  in 
churches  ;  but  as  dead  bodies  in  general  were  ^ 
thought  to  defile  confecrated  places,  it  was  ordered 
in  a  council  at  Meaux  in  a.  d.  849,  that  no  perfoii 
ibould  be  burled  in  churches,  but  thofe  whom  the 
bifhop  fhould  think  worthy  of  it,  on  account  of 
tkeir  fandity. 

In  A,  D.  827  there  were  fei'cral  famous  tranf- 
lations  of  relicks ;    and  many  applications    were 
made  to  Rome  for  them.       Among  others,    par- 
ticular application  was  made  to  the  pope  in  A.  ni 
827  for  the  relicks  of  St.  Sebaflian  for  a  monaftery 
in  France.     The  requefl  was  with  fome  difficulty 
granted  *    but  it  vi^s  faid  that  at  the  fame  time  the 
perfons  who  had  the  charge  of  thofe  relicks,    got 
poffeffion  in  a  clandeflirie  manner  of  thofe  of  St, 
Gregory.       Notwiihdandihg  this,    the   people  of 
Rome    pretend  to  have  them    bDth;   fo   that,    as 
Fleury    fays,    the    R  mans   either    deceived    the 
Frank;,    or  gave   them   only  part  of  the   relicks. 
Nothing,   fays    this  writer,    ihews   in   a  flronger 
liilht  the  devotion   that  was  at  this   time   paid  to 
relicks,  and  how  eagerly  they  were  defired,    thaii 
the   hiftory  of  the  tranflation  of  fome   relicks  by 
Fginhart  the  fecretary  of  Charlemagne,     which  he 
gives  at  full  length,  With  all  the  miracles  that  were 
faid  to  accompany  the   tranflation  of  them.       No 

pains 


Sec.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  M 

>:••■■■  ■ !  ; 

|)ains  or  ex  pence  were  fpared  in  order  to  procur^ 
them,  and  lome  of  the  moft  enlightened  perfons 
of  the  age  laid  the  greateft  flrefs  upon  them.  He 
acknowledges  that  much  artifice  was  ufed  in  get- 
ting poffeffion  of  relicks,  perfons  ftealing  them 
from  one  another.  With  his  ufual  good  fenfe, 
he  adds,  ,"  It  was  perhaps  the  fame  fpirit  which 
"  led  to  the  compofition  of  fo  many  hiftories  of 
"martyrs,  and  other  faints,  either  to  adorn  and 
*'  amplify  old  ones,  or  to  invent  new  ones,  in 
"  order  to  have  legends  for  the  feftivals  of  faints 
"  newly  tranflated." 

It  appears  by  the  writings  of  Valafred  Strabo^ 
in  the  middle  of  the  ninth  century,  that  it  was  the 
cuftom  to  blefs  a  Iamb  brought  near  to  the  altar, 
in  order  to  eat  it  on  Eafter  day  before  any  other 
vi6luals.  The  form  of  this  benedi6lion  is  at  the 
end  of  the  Roman  milfal.  .  It  is  condemned  by 
tliis  Strabo  as  a  remains  of  Jewifh  fuperftition. 

At  the  coronation  of  Charles  king  of  Lorrain, 
on  the  death  of  Lothaire  in  a.  d.  869,  Hincmar, 
who  confecrated  him,  mentioned  for  the  firfl;  time 
that  appears,  the  holy  oil  that  was  faid  to  have 
come  down  from  heaven,  with  which  lie  faid  that 
Clovis  had   been  anointed. 

The  fame  ideas  which  amonof  other  mortifica- 

tions  led  to  an  entire  abllinence   from  marriage, 

^ed  to  rcftri6lions  in  the  number  of  marriages.     By 

Vol.  Ill,  X  maix^ 


522  THE  HISTORY  OF        Pe^.XvI 

many  fecond  marriages  were  condemned,  but  third 
and  fourth  marriages  weie  held  in  great  abhor- 
rence. Thefe  ideas,  however,  were  more  pre- 
valent in  the  Eaft  than  in  the  Weft.  Leo,  fur- 
named  the  philofopher,  having  married  a  fourth 
wife,  Zoe,  the  child  he  had  by  her,  could  not  be 
baptized  by  the  patriarch  till  he  had  promifed  to 
fend  her  away.  Zoe  being  after  this  received  into 
the  palace,  all  the  people  were  fcandalized  at  it, 
and  the  emperor  engaged  to  have  the  validity  of 
the  marriage  examined  in  a  general  council.  Ac- 
cordingly legates  were  fent  to  Conftantinople  in 
A.  D.  905  from  all  the  patriarchal  fees,  and  the 
marriage  was  confirmed,  but  only  by  difpenfation, 
that  this  cafe  might  not  be  drawn  into  a  precedent. 
The  patriarch,  oppofmg  the  whole  proceeding, 
was  fent  out  of  the  way. 

The  Weft,  however,  was  by  no  means  free 
from  fuperftition  with  refpeft  to  the  commerce  of 
the  fexes.  Hermentrude,  wife  of  Charles  king^ 
of  Bretagne,  having  loft  fome  children,  and  others 
having  become  monks,  the  king  requefted  the 
bifhops  alTembled  in  council  in  a.  d.  866  to  give 
her  their  benediftion,  that  llie  might  have  other 
children  ufeful  to  the  church  and  the  ftate.  Ac- 
cordingly, file  was  crowned  by  them,  and  that 
oration  was  pronounced  over  her  which  is  at  the 
end  ot  the  mafs  of  marriage. 

Ideas 


Sec.  X,     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  ^^ 

Ideas  of  fome  impurity  attending  the  moft 
lawful  commerce  of  the  fexes  were  univerfal.  Pope 
Nicolas  giving  inftru6lions  to  the  king  of  Bulga- 
ria, who  was  lately  become  a  Chriftian,  direfts 
that  men  abftain  from  any  commerce  with  their 
wives  in  lentj  on  fundays,  and  as  long  as  they 
gave  fuck.  ' 

In  orife  refpeQ;  we  perceive  the  decreafe  of  fu- 
perftition  in  this  period.  Charlemagne  had  ordere»l 
that  if  there,  fhould  be  any  difference  among  hi^ 
fons  about  the  limits  of  their  kingdoms,  it  fhould 
be  decided  by  the  judgment  of  the  crofs,  without 
having  recourfe  to.  arms.  But  the  emperor  Lewi^ 
forbad  the  trial  by  the  crofs.  And  Agobar^ 
bifhop  of  Lyons  wrote  againft  all  appeals  to  God 
hy  ordeals  or  duel. 


?;tdo SECTION  X. 

Vf  the  dif  orderly  State  of  this  Period. 

TT       . ':' '« ' 

JL  HE  civil  ftate  of  the  world  is  no 
proper  part  of  eccleilaaical  hiftory,  and  therefore 
I  Ihall  not  dwell  upon  it,  but  the  diforders  of  this 
period  are  fo  promment  a  feature  of  it,  that  they 
cannot  be  pafTed  without  notice.  Befides,  they 
bad  a  great    conneaion    with   the  afFairs  of  the 

^  2  church' 


»24  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVI. 

church.  In  no  period  whatever  does  it  appear 
that  the  inhabitants  ot  the  antient  Weftern  Roman 
empire  fufFered  more,  partly  from  the  invafions  of 
foreign  nations,  and  partly  from  violences  com- 
ftiitted  among  themfelves.  The  invafions  of  the 
Saracens,  the  Normans,  the  Danes,  and  the  Huns, 
were  almoft  conftant,  and  moft  dreadful. 

The  Saracens,  befides  keeping  poffeffion  of 
the  greater  part  of  Spain,  and  being  generally  at 
war  with  the  Chriftian  princes  of  it,  frequently 
invaded  other  countries,  efpecially  the  coafts  of 
Italy,  on  which  they  had  for  fome  time  conii- 
derable  eftablifhments.  In  a.  d.  884  they  deftroy- 
cd  the  monaftery  of  Mount  Caffin,  and  often' 
^Veatened  Rome  itfeif.  In  a.  d.  846  they  plun- 
dered the  Vatican,  which  was  then  contiguous  to' 
the  city,  and  is  now  a  part  of  it,  and  carried  away 
much  wealth.  Sueur.  Wherever  they  came,  the 
churches  and  monafteiies  were  a  conftant  obje6i 
of  plunder.     They  were  a  rich  and  an  eafy  prey. 

The  Normans  committed  ftill  greater  ravages, 
not  only  in  the  North  of  France,  where  they  at 
length  obtained  a  permanent  fettlement,  but  even 
in  the  South.  They  even  infefted  the  coafts  of 
Italy,  and  in  ^.  d.  859  took  Pifa  and  other  cities. 
Thefe  ravages,  in  which  the  total  deftruflion  of 
churches  ar.d  monafteries,  was  moft  dreadful,  con- 
tinued feventy  years,  when  they  fettled  in  the  pro- 
vince 


^EG.  X.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  32^ 

vince  fince  called  Normandy,  and  their  duke  Rollo 
making  peace  with  Charles  furnamed  the  Simple, 
embraced  Chriftianity  in  a.  d.  912.  Being  bap- 
tized himfelf,  he  ordered  all  his  counts,  knights, 
and  hi?  whole  army,  to  be  baptized.  Rollo's  be- 
coming a  Chnilian  was  one  article  in  the  treaty. 
In  this  mannej-  was  Chriftianity  propagated  in 
Ithofe  times. 

In  A.  D.  goo  the  Huns  made  an  irruption  into 
Italy,  and  amon^j  other  ravages  deftroyed  the  mo- 
nafteries  of  Nonantula,  in  the  territory  ot  Modena. 
In  A.  D.  924,  being  invited  by  Berenger,  they 
again  entered  Italy,  when  they  ravaged  Lombardy, 
took  Pavia,  and  burned  forty-three  churches. 

But,  upon  the  whole,  it  feems  probable  that 
France  in  particular  fufFered  as  much  from  the 
want  of  aq  efficient  government,  and  a  due  fub- 
ordination  among  the  diflPerent  members  of  the 
ftate.  For  all  the  great  lords  or  landholders,  wer€ 
independent  of  one  another,  and  almoft  fo  upon 
the  king ;  fo  that  they  were  frequently  at  war  with 
one  another.  Confequently  travelling  was  very 
hazardous,  and  all  that  the  kings  or  the  biftiops 
could  do  to  reftrain  thefe  diforders  had  little  eflFea, 
In  thofe  times,  there  being  no  regular  adminiftra- 
tion  of  juftice,  the  lords  were  obliged  to  do  them- 
felves  juftice  by  force  of  arms.  Gerault  count  of 
Aurillac,  who  for  his  piety  and  application  toli, 

^  3  terature 


^2^  THE  HISTORY  OI-         Per.  XVJ. 

terature  obtained  the  title  of  faint,  was  obliged  to 
do  the  fame,  afting  the  part  of  thofe  who  were  af- 
terwards ftilcd  knights  efrant,  who  fought  to  re- 
drefs  public  wrongs.  His  hiftorian  faid,  that  h«r 
ufed  as  much  moderation  as  he  polfibly  could, 
avoiding  the  fhedding  of  blood,  and  treating  hii 
prifoners  with  generofity. 

In  a  council,  or  parliament,  held  by  Charles 
the  Bald  in  a.  d.  862,  many  directions  were  given 
to  reftrain  the  diforders  of  the  times  ;  but  Fleury 
fays  they  were  fo  little  obferved,  that  they  rather 
ferved  to  fhew  the  greatnefs  of  the  evil^  than  to  re- 
medy it.  At  the  council  of  Mayence  in  a.  d.  888, 
oreat  complaints  were  made  of  the  diflrefs  of  the 
times,  of  the  deftruQiion  of  churches  and  monafle- 
ries,  of  the  murder  of  priefts  and  monks,  of  whole 
troops  of  perfons  who  lived  by  plunder,  and  of 
fchifmatics,  who  made  no  account  of  murder  and 
japine,  and  would  not  fubmit  to  any  penance. 

Hincmar,  in  an  addrefs  to  king  Charles,  com- 
plains of  all  kinds  of  crimes  being  committed  with 
impunity  by  the  lords,  and  as  they  generally  went 
■  out  of  the  church  before  the  communion,  he  pre- 
pared an  addrefs  to  be  read  to  them  in  all  the 
churches  of  his  diocefe  before  that  time.  Among 
other  complamts,  he  fays  that,  after  getting  from 
the  churches  all  the  provilions  they  could  confunje, 
tht-y  demanded  monev,    and  if  it  was  noi;  oranteiJ, 


Sec.  X.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH/         S2? 

they  committed  greater  wafte.  Even  the  clergy 
who  attended  the  court  fufFered  their  domeftics  to 
commit  thefe  diforders,  to  maintain  their  horfes 
and  fervants,  and  to  abufe  the  women  they  me6 
with.  Hubert,  brother  of  queen.  Thetberge,  who 
had  been  in  holy  orders,  giving  himfelf  yp  to  de- 
bauchery, committed  many  violences.  He  feized 
on  the  monaftery  of  St.  Maurice  in  Valois,  and 
employed  the  revenues  of  it  in  the  maintetiance  of 
his  women,  dogs,  and  hawks.  He  alfo  enterecl 
with  an  armed  force  into  the  monaftery  of  Luxieu, 
and  there  lived  fome  days  with  his  women.  John 
yill  having  complained  of  the  injuries  he  had 
received  from  Lambert  duke  of  Spoleto  at  the 
council  of  Troyes  in  a.  d.  878,  all  the  biftiops 
faid,  "  We  wifti  to  know  how  to  a£l  ourfelves,  foe 
''  all  our  churches  are  plundered." 

Even  the  perfons  of  the  clergy  were  not  fparcd 
in  the  violence  of  thefe  times.  Fulk  archbilhop  of 
Rheims  having  a  quarrel  with  Baldwin  count  of 
Flanders,  the  vaffals  of  the  count  met  the  arch- 
bifhop  as  he  was  going  to  the  king  in  a.  d.  900, 
and  murdered  him.  Three  of  the  vaflkis  of  Bald- 
win were  folemnly  excommunicated  on  this  occa- 
fion,  and  the  bifl^ops,  in  pronouncing  the  curfes, 
threw  lamps  from  their  hands,  and  extinguifhed 
ihem  ;  which  Fleury  fays  is  the  firft  exam.pl e  that 

X  4  hs 


328  THE  HISTORY  OP         Pzr.  XVL 

he  had  met  ¥ritli  of  fuch  a  mode  of  excommuai- 

CatiOD. 

The  eleadon  of  2  new  pope  was  at  this  time, 
and  has  in  fome  degree  condnued  ever  fince,  to  be 
a  leaion  of  diforder  in  Rome.  When  Stephen 
was  cleaed  pope  in  a.  d.  885,  the  facrifty  wa« 
|HBiidered,  fo  that  there  were  hardJr  veffels  enow 
lefe  for  the  folcmn  feftivals.  Every  thina  elfe  was 
completely  gone,  and  little  left  in  the  treafurj  of 
the  church.  In  a  council  held  by  John  IX,  com- 
plaint was  made  that,  on  the  death  of  a  pope,  it 
was  grown  into  a  cuftom  to  plunder  the  patriarchal 
palace,  that  the  plunder  extended  thro'  the  dtjr 
of  Rome,  and  the  faburbs,  and  that  all  pontifical 
houfes  were  treated  in  the  fame  manner  on  the 
death  of  a  bifhop. 

The  great  wealth  of  churches  and  monafteries, 
•Sfhich  were  of  htde  apparent  ufe  in  a  civil  refpe^, 
ftLminied  an  excufe  to  the  laity  for  feizing  upon 
them.  When  an  inquiry  was  made  by  the  empe- 
TCW  Lewis,  in  an  affembly  held  at  Alx  la  Chapel le 
in  A.  n.  828,  into  the  caufes  of  the  diforders  of 
the  times,  and  the  bifhops  complained  of  the  feiz- 
iBg  of  their  temperaiities,  the  lords  replied,  that 
the  Rite  was  fo  much  weakened  by  donations  to 
the  church,  that  without  its  afE (lance  it  could  not 
be  fupportcd-  However,  from  a  letter  of  the 
iolhoDS  of  France  to  king  Lewis  in  a.  d.  858-  faid 
^       '  to 


Szc.  X.    THE  CHRISTIAX  CHURCH.  Mt 

to  be  ▼srittcD  by  Hincmar,  it  appears  tizat  the 
rich  biHiopricks  were  given  to  fretmea  to  {lien^Lhex^ 
the  militia  of  the  kingdom,  and  thereby  to  pro- 
cure a  dcferice  for  tfcecharch.  This,  favs  Fleurv. 
was  the  origin  of  Sefe  dep^dant  upon  churches. 

In  the  fecond  council  of  Aix,  in  a.  d.  3?5. 
the  clergy  flrongly  remonftrated  againft  the  coii- 
duft  of  king  Pepin,  in  ufurping  the  goodi  of  the 
church,  on  the  pretence  that  there  was  no  harm 
in  making  ufe  of  them  in  cafe  of  nccdEty ;  that 
neither  God  nor  the  faints  wanted  them,  that 
ercTY  thing  is  Gcd's,  and  he  hai  made  them  for 
the  aie  of  man.  They  fhewed  him,  however,  that 
God  accepts  the  offerings  of  men,  and  that  he  his 
given  them  to  his  ferrants  the  priefts.  In  anfe- 
guence  of  this  rcmonftrance,  orders  were  given  at 
this  time  for  the  reftitution  of  all  ufarpatioiis. 

The  popes  themfelves  were  fometimea  gtiiltj 
of  thefe  violences.  When  the  emoeror  Lothaire 
was  at  Rom;  in  A.  D.  824,  the  abbot  of  Farfa  com- 
plained to  him  that,  to  the  prejudice  of  his  mo- 
naflery,  the  pope  had  impofed  a  tribute  upon  k, 
and  had  taken  away  fome  lands  by  violence.  The 
complaint  appearing  to  be  joft,  refittotios  was  or- 
dered to  be  made.  ? 

Such  diforder?  as  thofe  mentioned  in  ths 
le^cn  were  as  common  in  Bret^zne  zs  in  France 

X  5  pro- 


S30  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XVI. 

properly  fo  called,    and  as  common  in  England, 
Sl&  in  any  other  country . 


SECTION   XI. 

MijCtllanecus  Articles, 


I 


SHALL  begin  this  fe6lion  with  the 
notice  of  fuch  articles  as  relate  t]^e  ordinances  of 
■  the  church,  and  public  worfhip.  , 

I.  It  appears  from  the  treatifes  on  baptifm^ 
written  at  the  requifition  of  Charlemagne,  that  the 
adnftiniflration  of  the  Lord's  fupper  immediately 
followed  the  baptifm  of  infants.  At  a  council  in 
England  in  a.  d.  ^ij^  it  was  ordered  that  baptifm 
§iouLd  not  tie  adminiflered  by  aflFufion,  but  by 
clipping  the  whole  body  of  the  child  three  times. 

,  2.  At  a  council  of  Mayence  in  a.  d.  8134  it 
was  ordered  that  no  priefl  fhould  fay  mafs  alone  ; 
for  that  otherwifc  he  could  not  fay  the  Lord  be 
"with  US,  Solitary  malTes  were  alfo  forbidden  at 
fhe  council  of  Paris  in  a.  d.  829. 

3.  The  recital  of  the  Nicene  creed  in  the  pub- 
lic worfhip  became  more  common  after  the  con- 
demnation of  Felix  of  Urgel. 

4.  Pope  John  VIII,  writing  to  the  Mora- 
vians, ordered  them  to  recite  the  mafs  in  Latin  or 

Greek, 


fiEC»XI.   THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  331 

n  \ 

Greek,  and  not,  as  he  had  heard  they  did,  in  the; 
Sclavonian  tongue,  tho'  they  might  preach  in  that 
language.  "  All  the  world,"  he  fays,  "  recites 
*'  the  mafs  in  Latin,  or  Greek,"  not  knowing,  as 
Fleury  obferves,  that  the  Syrians,  Egyptians,  an4 
Armenians,  all  recited  the  office  in  their  own 
tongues.  Afterwards,  being  probably  convinced 
by  the  remonftrances  of  Methodius,  who  went 
from  thence  to  Rome,  he  made  no  objeQion  to 
the  whole  fervice  being  performed  in  Sclavonic, 
Still,  however,  he  recommended  the  reading  of 
the  gofpels  in  Latin  firft. 

5.  At  the  council  of  Paris  in  a.  d.  829,  gre^^t 
complaint  was  made  of  the  priefts,  who  thro' 
ignorance  prefcribed  penance  from  books  called 
Penitcntiah,  which  were  of  no  authority,  and  which 
were  ordered  to  be  collefted,  and  burned.  By 
this  means  very  light  penances  liad  been  appointed 
for  great  crimes.  Halitgarius,  bifliop  of  Arras  and 
Cambray,  who  affifled  at  this  council,  was  requeft- 
ed  to  compofe  a  treatife  from  the  Fathers,  and  the 
canons  of  the  church,  to  ferve  inftead  of  thofe  Pe- 
nitentials.  He  undertook  it,  and  called  his  book 
A  remedy  for  fins.  Before  this  period  there  was 
no  penance  but  what  was  in  public,  for  offence« 
known  to  the  world ;  but  now  another  kind  of  pe- 
liance  was  introduced  for  fccret  fins.       Sueur,  a, 

D.   813. 

6.  It 


§32  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVJ. 

6.  It  was  not  till  the  council  of  Lateran  under 
Innocent  III  that  auricular  conjejjion  was  made 
pecelTary ;    but  in  the  ninth  century  private   pe- 
nance  enjoined  by  the  prieft  was  pretty  cornmon.  ^ 
rBinghqm,  Vol.  2.  p.  22. 

7.  About  A.  p.  890  the  council  of  Nante  or- 
dered the  prefbyters  to  keep  fome  part  of  the  obla- 
tions oi  tl;e  people  till  after  the  fervice,  that  fuch 
as  were  not  prepared  to  communicate  might  on  eve- 
ry feftival,  and  on  the  Lord's  day,  receive  fom^ 
of  this  bread  (called  eulogia)  when  bleffed  in  a  pro- 
ber manner.     Bingham,  Vol.  j.  p.  770. 

8.  In  A.  D.  835  Gregory  IV  dedicated  the 
Pantheon  (which  had  before  been  dedicated  to  the 
virgin  Mary  and  the  martyrs)  to  all  the  faints. 
He  alfo  inflituted  the  feftival  oi  All  Saints.  He 
wrote  to  the  emperor  Lewis  on  the  occalion,  and 
^e,  with  the  confent  of  the  bifhops  of  France,  or- 
dered it  to  be  celebrated  the  firft  of  November 
thro'  all  his  dominions,  according  to  the  direflion 
of  the  pope.  Sueur. 

9.  Hereditary  fepulchres  in  churches  were  not 
allowed  in  the  ninth  century,  but  were  introduced 
by  the  papal  decretals.  For  a  decree  of  Leo  III 
was  inferted  in  his  decretals  by  Gregory  IX,  giv- 
ing a  fort  of  hereditary  right  to  all  perfons  to  be 
buried  in  the  fepulchres  of  their  anceftors.  Bing- 
ham, Vol.  2.  p.  426, 

10.  In 


^EC.  XI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  dktfRCH.  JS§ 

TO  In  the  a£ls  of  the  council  of  Meaux  in  aI 
i).  B^c^  we  fiod  a  diftinftion  made  between  finiple 
excommunication,  and  an  anathema. 

11.  Early  in  the  ninth  century  there  was  a  dif-* 
jiute  between  the  French  and  Roman  fingers ^ 
and  an  appeal  being  made  to  Charlemagne,  he  de- 
cided in  favour  of  the  Roman,  and  got  the  pope 
to  fend  him  fingers  to  teach  tjie  Roman  method  itf 
France.     Williams  p.  36. 

In  the  tenth  century  Dunflan  ^as  the  patron 
of  fcience  and  the  arts  in  England,  and  among 
the  reft  of  mufic,  in  which  he  was  a  proficient.  It 
is  faid  that  he  prefented  the  abbey  of  Malmfbury 
with  an  organ,  perhaps  the  firfl  that  was  feen  in 
England,  and  that  he  call  two  of  the  bells  of  A- 
feingdon  abby  with  his  own  hands.  Williams,  p.  36^. 

1 2.  The  general  ftate  of  literature  is  intimately 
Connefted  with  ecclefiaftical  hiftory,  and  there- 
fore I  ftiall  not  fail  to  note  whatever  I  find  of  im- 
portance relating  to"  it. 

It  is  faid  that  Charlemagne  requefled  his 
bifhops  to  write  treatifes  on  the  fubjedl  of  baptifm, 
not  for  his  own  information  fo  much  as  theirs ;  for 
he  was  continually  exciting  the  prelates  to  the  flu- 
dy  of  the  fcriptures,  the  clergy  in  general  to  the 
obfervance  of  their  difcipline,  the  monks  t©  regu- 
larity, the  grandees  to  give  good  council,  the 
judges  to  do  juflice,  the  fuperiors  to  humility,  the 

inferiors' 


i34  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVIi 

inferiors  to  obedience,  and  all  to  virtue  and  con» 
cord.       This  is,  in  the  fly le  of  panegyric;    but  it 
was  probably  in  a  great  meafure  true   of  that  ex- 
traordinary man.       But  the  efFeQs  of  all  that  he 
did  for  the  advancement  of  learning  were  but  tem- 
porary.    ,  For  at  a  council  held  in  Rome  in  a.  d; 
826,    thirty-eight  canons   were  made,    the  obje6i; 
of  moll  of  which  was  the  reformation  of  the  clergy, 
whofe  ignorance   is  faid  to  have  been  very  great, 
and  therefore  fchools  were  direfted  to  be  eftablifh- 
ed  in  cathedral    churches  and   parilhes.      In  the 
reign  of  Charles  the  Baldj  at  the  council  of  Lan- 
gres  in  a.   d.  859,  there  was  great  complaint  made 
of  the  want  of  public  fchools,    and  that,  in  confer 
quence  of  this,    there  hardly   remained  a  trace  of 
the  knowledge   of  the   fcripturss.      This  prince^ 
however,  is  praifed  for  having  in  fome  meafure  re- 
ilored  letters,  having  procured  learned  men   from 
all  countries,     and  among   others  from    Ireland. 
He  had  a  fchool  in  his  palace. 

In  England  Alfred  diflrnguifhed  himfclf  nol: 
only  hy  his  excellent  civil  inftitutions,  but  alfo 
by  his  zeal  to  promote  literature.  He  is  confiderea 
as  the  founder  of  the  univerfity  of  Oxford.     Mof 

ieim,  Vol.  2.  p.  113.  ,  , 

Literature  had  alfo  been  much  negleaed  at 
Conftantinople  in  feveral  reigns  preceding  that  of 
Michael  in    a.  d.  858,    when  his  uncle   Bardas 

prembted 


Sec.  XI.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  s^l 

promoted  the  revival  of  it,  in  which  he  was  arflifled 
by  Leo  furnamed  the  Philofopher,  who  had  been 
archbiflhop  of  Theffalonica,  and  had  been  depofed 
as  an  Iconoclaft,  and  by  Photius  the  learned  pa« 
triarch  of  Conftantinople. 

13.  In  this  period  we  find  the  firfi;  mention 
of  coloured  glafs  in  the  windows  of  churches.  Pope 
Leo  III  ornamented  a  church  in  Rome  with  glafs 
of  this  kind. 

14.  As  a  fpecimen  of  the  fat>ulous  legends 
which  abounded  in  this  age  of  ignorance  and  fuper- 
ftition,  1  ftiall  relate  what  Hildwin  abbot  of  St, 
Denis,  at  the  requeft  of  the  emperor  Lewis,  col-^ 
le6led  concerning  St.  Dionyfius,  from  whom  the' 
monaftery  had  its  name.  In  this  hiftory  he  fays 
the  firftbifhop  of  Paris  was  Dionyfius  the  Areopa^ 
gite,  who  was  converted  by  St.  Paul,  and  was 
the  author  of  the  writings  then  ufually  afcribcd  to 
him:  After  having  for  fome  years  governed  the 
church  of  Athens,  he  put  another  perfon  in  his 
place,  and  travelled  to  Rome,  in  order  to  fee  Pe- 
ter and  Paul ;  but  did  not  arrive  there  till  afteir 
their  martyrdom  under  the  pontificate  of  St.  Cle- 
ment, who  fent  him  as  an  apoftle  into  Gaul,  with 
feveral  perfons  to  accompany  him.  After  arriving 
at  Aries,  Dionyfius  went  to  Paris,  then  a  royal 
city,  and  famous  for  the  affemblies  of  Gauls  and 
Germans.     There  he  built  a  church,  and  ordained 

clergy, 


THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVI. 

clerc^Vj  converted  a  number  of  infidels,  and  wrought 
many  miracles.     The  emperor  Domitius,  hearing 
of  this,    fent  into  Gaul  a  governor  called  Fefcen- 
nius  Sifinius,  who  arriving  at  Paris  caufed  bifhop 
Dionyfius  to  be  apprehended,     together   with  the 
archpriefi  Rufticus,  and  the  archdeacon   Eleuthe- 
JUS,  and  made  them  fuffer  many  torments.     Dio- 
nyfius was  fcourged,    laid  on  a  gridiron,    throwii 
to  the  wild  beads,  after  that  into  a  furnace,  fattened 
to  a  crofs,    and"  then  fent  back  to  prifon,    together 
with  many  other  Chriftians;  where,   as  he  was  ce- 
lebrating m^afs,  Jefus  Chrift  himfelf  appeared  with 
feveral  angels,    and  gave  them  the  eucharift  with 
his  own  hands.     At  length  thefe  three  faints  were 
conducted  to  Montmartre,  where  their  heads  were 
cut  off  before  the   idol  Mercury.       Many   others 
fufferedmartj-rdom  along  with  them,  but  the  body 
of  Dionyfius   got   up,    and  took  his  head  in  his 
bands,  being  conducted  by  angels.   Laflly,  a  lady 
named  Catula  had  the  three  bodies  taken  out  of  the 
Seine,    into  which  the  pagans  had   thrown   them» 
and  buried  them  in  a  field  where  the  church  and 
monaftery  now  ft  and.     After  this  my  readers  will 
excufe  me,  if  I  pafs  over  a  thoufand^other  legends 
lirailsr  to  this  in  filence. 


PERIOD 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ssf 


PERIOD     XVII. 

From  the  Accession  of  Otho  in  a.  d. 
936  TO  THE  Conquest  of  Jerusalem 
BY   THE   Crusaders   in    a.   d.   1099. 


SECTION  I. 

OJ  the  State  of  the  Papacy  in  this  Period^ 


I 


N  order  to  giv^e  a  jufl  idea  of  the  wretcii? 
cd  Hate  to  which  the  papacy  was  funk  in  the  greateft 
part  of  this  period,    it  will  be  neceffary   to  give  a 
fi:etch  of  the  hiftory   of  feveral  of  the  popes,  and 
6f  the  principal  tranfatlions  of  the  times;  but  this 
fhall  be  as  fuccinft  as  I  can  well  make  it. 
„'     Otho  king  of  Germany,  being  inviied  to  Italy 
by  pope  John  XII,  to  relieve  him  from  the   ty- 
ranny^: of  Berenger  king  of  Italy,  was  by  him  crown- 
ed emperor  in  a.  d.  960;  and  in  return  hereftored 
to  the  pope   all  that  had  been  taken  from   the  fee 
of  Rome   in  every  part  of  Italy.       He  aifo  pro- 
mifed  hijn  Sicily,  if  he  fiiould  be  able  to  conquer 
it  from  the  Saracens ;    referving,    however,    the 
V or.  Ill  Y  fover- 


as8  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV If. 

fovereignty  of  all  the  Hates  to  himfelf  and  his 
heirs.  Afterwards  the  pope  joined  Adelbert  the 
fon  of  Berenger;  but  flying  from  Rome  on  the  ap- 
proach of  Otho,  and  being  accufed  of  many  crimelS 
in  a  council  held  in  a.  d.  963,  he  was  depofed, 
and  Leo  VIII  chofen  in  his  place. 

John's  party  prevailing  again,  he  depofed  Leo, 
who  fled  to  the  emperor ;  and  to  fatiate  his  re- 
venge John  ordered  the  right  hand  of  another  John, 
a  cardinal  deacon  and  a'partifan  of  Leo,to  be  cut  ofF, 
and  alfo  the  tongue,  nofe,  and  two  fingers  of  Azon 
his  chief  fecretary.  Then,  in  a  council  held  in 
Rome,  Leo  was  declared  to  be  an  ufurper,  and 
John,  after  depofing  all  who  had  been  ordained 
by  him,  reordained  them.  John  furvived  this 
council  only  three  months.  For  being  in  compa- 
ny with  a  common  proflitute  without  the  gates  of 
Rome,  he  received  fo  violent  a  blow  on  the  tem- 
ples, that  he  died  in  eight  days,  and,  as  the  hiflo- 
rian  fays,  without  receiving  the  viaticum.  He 
was  fucceeded  by  Benedift  V.  but  the  people  of 
Rome,  who  oppofed  the  entrance  of  Otho,  be- 
ing prefled  by  famine,  gave  up  the  pope;  and 
Leo  VIII,  who  had  been  depofed  by  John,  was 
reinftated ;  and  in  another  council  Benedi6l  waa 
degraded  and  banifhed. 

On  the  death  of  John  XIII,  in  a.   d.  972, 
Benedid  VI  was  made  pope,  but  becoming  odi- 

oivs 


Sec.  I.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH^  339 

ftus  to  the  Romans,  he  was  feized  by  Crefcentius 
the  fon   of  John    X,  by   Theodora,  and  confined 
in  the  caQle  of  St.  Angelo.    Francon,  called  Boni- 
face  VII  was  made  pope  in  his  place,  and  fome 
time  after  Benedid;  was  llrangled  in  prifon.     Af- 
ter his   death  Boniface  was  expelled,   and  fled  to 
Conftantinople;  but  returning  after  thf  death  of 
Benedift,  in  a.  d.  984,  and  his  party   gaining  the 
afcendancy,  they  feized  his  fucceffor  John  XIV, 
and    confined  him  in   the    caftle  of   St,  Angelo^ 
where  he  died  of  hunger  and  vermin. .    When  he 
was  dead,  his  own  friends  difliked  him  fo  much, 
that  they  pierced  his  body  with  lances,  dragged  it 
by  the  feet,  and  left  it  expofed   in  the  open  llreet. 
Such  is  the  complexion  of  the  papal  hiftoiy  in 
this  period,  mentioned  with  horror  and  difgufl;  by 
all  the  Catholic  hiftorians ;  and  in  the  fame  light 
it  was  viewed  by  pious  and  intelligent  perfons  at 
the  time.     Arnold  bifliop  of  Orleans,  at  a  council, 
in  which  the  archbifhop  of  Rheims  was   tried  for 
jbigh  treafon,  and  it  was  propofed  to   appeal  to  tht 
pope,  after  reciting  the  hiftory  of  the  late  popes, 
faid,  "  Is  it  then  determined  that  fo  many  bifhops, 
*'  dillinguifhed  by  their  learning  and  their  virtue 
"  in   all  parts  of  the   world,  fhould  be  fubjeQ;  to 
f  fuchmonfters,  full  of  infamy,  and  void  of  know- 
V  led^e  of  thinia:s  divine   or  human  ?   Whom  arfij 
**  we  to  blame  that  the  principal  church,  formerly 

Y  3  x'ro^yji- 


/ 


MO  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVIf. 

*'  crowned  with  honour  and  giory,  is  now  fo  de- 
*'  bafed,  and  loaded  with  infamy  ?  The  fault  is 
"  ours.  It  is  becaufe  we  feek  our  own  interefts, 
*«  and  not  thofe  of  Jefus  Chrift."  He  then  faid 
they  were  to  blame  in  not  making  a  proper  choice 
of  popes.  What,"  faid  he,  "  can  we  thmk  of  a  man 
*'  fitting  on  a  high  throne,  clothed  in  gold  and 
*'  purple  if  he  be  dellitute  of  charity,  and  only 
*«  puffed  up  with  knowledge?  It  is  antichrift  fit- 
*'  ting  in  the  temple  of  God  and  fhewing  himfelf 
*' as  God:  but  if  he  have  neither  chaiity  nor  fci- 
*'  ence,  he  is  in  the  temple  of  God  as  an  idol,  and 
*'  to  confult  him  is  to  confult  the  marble."  He 
therefore  recommends  an  appeal  to  the  bifhops  of 
the  neighbouring  provinces  rather  than  to  Rome, 
where,  he  fays,  every  thing  is  venal,  and  all  judg- 
ments fold  by  the  weight  of  gold.  He  clearly- 
proved,  fays  Fleury,  that  according  to  antient  cuf- 
tom,  appeals  fhould  not  have  been  made  to  Romej 
but  that  he  was  embarraffed  by  the  fpurious  de- 
cretals, which  he  could  not  diftinguifh.  But  to 
proceed  with  ray  fketch  of  the  hiftory. 

John  XIX  was  a  mere  layman,  who  got  him- 
felf made  pope  by  the  force  of  money.  At  the 
folicitatioh  of  the  emperor  Bafilius  he  would  for 
a  bribe  have  confented  that  the  patriarch  of  Con- 
ftantinople  fhould  have  the  title  of  univerfal  bifhop 
of  the  Eaft,as  he  had  thatofthe  whole  church,  but 
the  alarm  it  gave  prevented  his  doing  it.  On" 


Sec.  I.       THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         34t 

On  the  death  of  this  John,  a  fon  of  Alberic 
count  of  Tufculum,  who  was  only  twelve  years 
of  age,  was  made  pope  by  the  name  of  Benedi6t 
IX,  and  he  continued  eleven  years,  difhonouring 
the  fee  by  his  infamours  life.  Simony  then 
reigned  at  Rome,  Fleury  fays  for  twenty  five  years. 
This  pope  makhig  himfelf  mfamous  by  his  ra- 
pines and  murders,  the  Roman  people  were  una- 
ble to  bear  him  any  longer,  and  expelled  him  from 
Rome  A.  D.  1044,  making  John  bifhop  of  Sabine 
pope,  by  the  name  of  Silvefter  III.  Benedict, 
however,  by  the  help  of  his  relations,  forced  uis 
way  into  the  city  ]  but  continuing  his  fcandaluus 
life,  and  feeing  himfelf  defpifed  by  the  clergy  and 
people,  he  agreed  to  withdraw  for  a  fum  of  money. 
He,  however,  alFumed  the  papacy  the  third  time 
in  A.  D.  1047,  '^"^  ^^^^  ^^  more  than  eight  months, 
when  Fleury  fays,  being  touched  with  repentance, 
he  finally  abdicated. 

Alexander  II,  being  chofen  pope  without  wait- 
ing for  the  confent  of  the  court  of  Henry  IV,  then 
a  child,  they  made  Henry  bifhop  of  Parma  pope, 
by  the  name  of  Honorius  11.  He  marched  to- 
wards Rome  with  an  army,  but  was  repulfed,  and 
was  afterwards  depofed  by  all  the  bifhops  of  Ger- 
many and  Italy,  a.  d.  1062.  He  was,  however, 
fupported  by  Godfrey  duke  of  Lorrain  and  Tuf- 
f  any,   who  had  at  firft  oppofed  him  ;  but  notwith- 

Y  3  iUndin^^ 


^4^  THE  HISTORY  OF        ?ek.  XVil^ 

1:    ^  \ 

fland'ng  this,  at  the  council  of  Mantua  Alexan- 
der latislied  the  people  of  Lombardy  with  refpefi 
to  the  vslidiiy  of  his  eleftion,  and  Honorius.  was 
condemned  as  a  hmoniac/  Not  difcouraged  v\'ith 
|;his,  Honorius  entered  Rome  by  furprife,  andjfeize4 
the  church  of  St.  Peter;  but  being  overpowered, 
he  took  refuge  in  the  caflle  of  St.  Angelo,  where 
he  continued  two  years.  Efcaping  thence,  he 
retired  to  mount  Bardon  near  Baretti, where  he  con- 
tinued to  a6l  as  pope  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  when 
excommunicated  hirafelf,  he  excommunicated  his 
opponents. 

But  by  far  the  mofl  interefling  part  of  the  papal 
hiftory  in  this  period  is  that  of  Gregory  VII,  and 
his  conleft  with  the  emperor  Hemy  IV,  which  I 
fhall  therefore  relate  at  fome  length. 

This  famous  pope,  under  the  name  of  Hilde- 
larand,  had,  with  great  ability,  activity  and  integri- 
ty, direfted  the  mofl  important  affairs  of  the  papa- 
cy under  feveral  of  the  preceding  popes,  and  as  tar 
as  appears,  was  a  man  oi  an  irreproachable  moral 
charafter.  He  was  a  great  enemy  of  Simony,  the 
'i)revailing  complaint  of  the  times,  but  he  had  un- 
fortunately entertained  the  mofl:  extravagant  ideas 
of  the  papal  power,  as  fuperiof  to  any  other  in  the 
world;  anda6ling  upon  them,  he  involved  himfelf 
in  inextricable  difficuhies,  and  was  the  occafioji  of 

HIUCII 


Seg.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  S48 

much  mifchief,  by   being   the   occafion  of  a  civil 
war  in  Germany  and  Italy. 

Henry  IV  too  much  refembled  other  princes  ♦ 
of  this  time,  being  equally  deffolute  and  rapaci- 
ous; and  tho'  he  \va.s,  induced  to  make  fome  mean 
iubmiffions,  he  was  a  prince  of  great  courage  and 
refolution,  and  in  more  favourable  circumllances 
might  have  appeared  to  confiderable  advantage. 

The  firft  occaiion  of  this  prince's  unfortunate 
conteft  with  the  church  was  his  defire  to  get  ndof 
his  queen  Bertha.  Alleging  for  an  excufe,  that  he 
had  not  been  able  to  confummate  his  marriage 
with  her,  he  applied  to  the  bifhops  for  a  divorce, 
and  they  applying  to  the  pope,  he  fent  St.  Damien 
with  his  orders,  expreffing  his  flrong  difapproba- 
tion  of  the  propofal,  and  declaring  that  he  would 
not  give  him  the  imperial  crown  if  he  betrayed  the 
caufe  of  religion  in  fo  ftiameful  a  manner.  The 
lords  approving  of  the  pope's  fentence,  the  king 
was  obliged  to  comply,  and  keep  his  wife,  tho'  he 
never  lived  with  her  as  fuch. 

Another  oiFence  of  this  king  was  his  fale  of 
church  livings.  He  encouraged  the  archbifhop  of 
Mayen«e  in  exafting  the  tithes  of  Thuringia,  pro- 
miung  him  his  affillance,  on  condition  that  he 
fhould  fliare  them  with  him.  The  archbifhop 
confented,  and  at  the  council  of  Erford,  all  the 
bilhops   had    been   gained  to  give   their  confent; 

Y4  an4 


244  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVII. 

C  > 

•  f  : 

and  by  tbe  king's  management  no  appeal  was 
made  to  the  pope  on  the  fubjefl.  Being,  how- 
ever, accufed  of  felling  his  church  livings,  the  pope 
excommunicated  him,  and  moreover  fent  legates 
into  Germany  to  prefide  at  a  council  which  was 
to  be  held  on  the  fubjeft.  This  the  biftiops  op- 
pofed  ;  faying,  that  their  own  metropolitan  fhould 
prefide,  unlefs  the  pope  was  prefent  in  perfon. 
And  Fleury  fays  the  prefiding  of  the  popes'  le- 
gates in  councils  was  then  a  novelty.  They, 
therefore,  returned  without  holding  the  council, 
but  they  carried  letters  from  the  king,  in  which  he 
cxprelTcd  his  entire  fubmiflion  to  the  pope,  ac- 
knowledging his  offences,  and  efpccially  that  of 
ielling  his  church  livings.  This,  however,  did 
not  fatisfy  the  haughty  prelate."  For  when  Henry" 
was  celebrating  the  fcllival  of  chriftmas  at  Goflar 
in  A.  D.  1075,  he  ^^"^  ^  legate  to  order  him  to  at-i 
tend  at  Rome,  the  fccond  week  in  lent,  to  defend 
him  felt  ajrainfl;  feveral  things  that  were  laid  to  his 
charge  ;  threatening  that,  otherwifc,  he  would  a- 
gain  excommunicate  him.  This  was  more  than 
a  young  and  high  fpirited  prince  could  bear.  Be- 
ing exceedingly  provoked  at  this  conduct,  he  ap- 
pointed a  meeting  of  the  bifhops  and  abbots  of  his 
kingdom  at  Worms,  the  23d  of  January,  with  a 
i'iew  to  confult  about  dcpofing  the  pope. 

'''  '.  To 


-Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  34^ 

To  this  Henry  might  be  encouraged  by  the 
appearance  of  other  enemies  to  the  pope.  Cencius, 
the  prefe6t  of  Rome,  a  man  abandoned  to  all  vvick- 
edncfs,  having  been  often  reproved  by  Gregory 
without  any  eiF<r6t,  was  at  length  excommunicated. 
On  this  he  went  to  confult  v/ith  Robert  Guifcard, 
and  others,  in  the  fame  ftate  of  excommunicatioH, 
to  concert  meafures  for  ieizing  the  pope  ;  and  at 
chriftmas  in  a.  d.  1075  Cencius  did  feize  the 
pope  as  he  v/as  performing  mafs.  He  was  even 
ciragged  by  the  hair,  and  received  a  dangerous 
wound  in  the  forehead,  from  a  man  who  intended 
to  have  killed  him.  The  people,  however,  rifmg 
in  favour  of  the  pope,  Cencius  retired  to  a  caftle 
which  he  had  built  in  the  city  ;  and  afking  the 
pope's  pardon,  was  admitted  to  penance,  but  left 
he  fhould  be  taken,  he  fled. 

About  the  fame  time  Guibert  archbifhop  of 
Ravenna  concerted  with  the  archbifhop  of  Milan, 
and  other  bifhops  of  Lombardy,  which  was  fubje^l; 
to  the  king,  and  in  a  Hate  of  revolt,  and  they  em- 
ployed cardinal  Hugh,  furnamed /f/i^r  White,  who 
had  been  depofcd  by  tha  pope  for  his  diforderly 
conduft,  to  excite  Robert  Guifcard  and  king  Hen- 
ry againft  the  pope,  both  fufiiciently  difpofed  to 
it. 

Surrounded  by  fo  many  enemies,  the  pope 
fccms  to  have  been  defirous  of  accommodati'^:^  m.it- 

Y5  teis 


a4e  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVIi 


rf» 


ters  with  the  king.  He  wrote  to  him  to  expoflu- 
jate  with  him  on  his  condutt,  and  without  arjy 
acrimony.  Ic  was,  however,  without  erFe6l.  For 
Henry  perhfting  in  his  purpofe,  did  not  fail  to 
go  to  Worms  at  the  (ime  appointed,  and  there  ha 
Wa*  met  by  a  great  nlimber  of  bi  (hops  and  abbots, 
together  with  cardinal  Hugh.  There  the  kmg  re- 
cited, an  account  which  he  had  drawn  up  of  the 
Jife,  education,  and  behaviour  of  the  pope,  calcula- 
ted to  excite  the  indignation  of  his  audience.  To 
encourage  them  in  their  oppofition  to  him,  he  in- 
formed them,  that  he  had  made  himfeif  many  ene- 
jnies,  the  Normans,  the  neighbouring  counts,  and 
many  of  the  people  of  Rome.  After  fome  oppo- 
fition from  Adalberon  bifliop  ot  Virfburgh,  ^nd 
Herman  bifhop  of  Metz,  on  account  of  the  perfon 
accufed  being  abfent,  it  was  unanimoufly  determi- 
ned that  Hildebrand  was  no  proper  pope,  and  that 
he  had  not  the  power  of  binding  or  loohng. 

The  bifhops  of  Lombardy  alfo,  and  thofe  in 
the  march  of  Ancona,  affembled  at  Pavia,  and  all 
figned  the  condemnation  of  the  pope,  fwearing  on 
the  evangelifts  that  they  would  no  more  acknow- 
ledge him  as  fuch,  and  they  fent  deputies  who  took 
the  fame  oath  ol  others.  It  does  not  appear, 
however,  that  either  at  Worms  or  Pavia,  any  fpe- 
cific  charge  was  brought  againfl  the  pope.  Henry's 
fpcech  was  only  general  inventive,  cjccept  that  he 

'  fai4 


Sec.  I.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  347 

t 

faid  that  there  v/as  fome  irregularity  in  his  eleftion; 
but  whatever  it  was,  it  had  been  confirmed  and 
fanftioned  by  himfelf. 

Henry  alfo  wrote  to  the  clergy  and  people  of 
Rome,  advifing  them,  of  wiiat  had  been  done, 
charging  Gregory  with  enmity  to  himfelf,  and  as 
having  declared  that  he  would  either  die  or  deprive 
him  of  his  k..:!gdom,  and  even  of  his  life,  and  defirinsr 
them  to  chuffe  another  pope.  He  lik^wife  wrote 
to  the  pope  himfelf,  rjsproaching  him  vvith  the  coq- 
tempt  with  which  he  had  treated  the  bilhops,  and 
faying  that  he  held  his  kingdom  not  of  the  pope;, 
but  of  God  only,  and  that  he  could  not  be  depo- 
fed  unlefs  he  abandoned  the  faith  ;  fo,  at  leaft, 
fays  Fleury,  the  billiops  who  compofed  the  letter, 
faid  for  him. 

Roland,  a  clergyman  of  Parma,  was  the  bearer 
of  this  letter,  and  of  another  from  the  council,  and 
they  were  delivered  at  the  opening  of  Gregory '^ 
council  in  Rome  the  firfl  week  in  Lent.  Such, 
however,  was  the  indignation  of  thofe  who  attend- 
ed that  council,  that  it  was  not  without  difficulty, 
and  by  means  of  the  interpofition  of  Gregory  him- 
felf, that  Roland  efcaped  with  his  life.  Had  this 
pope  always  fpoken  and  afted  as  he  did  on  till* 
pccafion,  he  would  have  been  great  indeed.  When 
Roland  was  fafe,  he  addreffed  the  council  with  mo- 
deratiori  and  dignity,  becoming  a  chriRian  bilhop. 


348  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVII. 

"  Tlicfe,"  faid  he,  "  are  the  perilous  times,  which 
«'  the  fcriptures  fa^/  fhould  come.      Offences   will 
"  come,  and  we  muft  be  as  Iheep  among    wolves. 
"  Let  us  then,  without  hating  any   perlon,  bear 
*'  with  thefe  madmen  who  violate  the  laws  of  God. 
*'  I  have  in  my  hand  a  fign  of  the  vi6lory  which 
*'  God  will  give  to  his  church  ;"   and  with  this  be 
exhibited  an  egg,  or  fomething  in  the  form  of  an 
eg^,  which  had  been  found  in  the  church  of  St. 
Peter,  round  which  he  faid   a  ferpent,  armed  with 
afword  and  helmet,  was   feen  endeavouring  to  get 
to  the  top,  but  was  not  able  to  do  it.   *'  We  mull 
«'  now"  he  faid, , "  employ  the  fword  of  the  word, 
*'  to  bruife  the  head  of  the  ferpent,  and  avenge  the 
church."     All    prefent  applauded    the  fpeech   of 
the  pope,  declared   that  they  were   ready   to   die 
in  fo  good  a  caufe,  and  concluded   with  faying, 
that  Henry  fhould   be  deprived  of  his  royal  digni- 
ty, and  anathematized,  together  with  his  abettors. 
The   day   following    the  pope  pronounced  a- 
^ainft  the  king  a  folemn  fentence  of  depofition,  in 
the  form  of  an  addrefs  to  the    apoftle    Peter^  as 
head  of  the  church.    "  I  forbid,"  he  faid   "  Henry 
*'  fon  of  the  emperor  Henry,  who  by  unheard   of 
"  pride  has  railed  himfclf  againfl  your  church,  to 
''  govern  the  kingdoms  of  Germany  and    Italy.   I 
*'  abfolve   the  chriftians  from   the  oath  they  have 
.'*  taken  or  fhali  take  to  him,  and  I  forbid  any  per- 

<'  foa 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  549 

*'  fon  tofervehim  as  king.  For  he  who  will  at- 
**  tack  the  authority,  of  your  church,  deferves  to  lofe, 
"  the  dignity  with  which  he  is  invefted."  He  alfo. 
pronounced  excommunications  againft  the  bifhops 
of  Germany  in  general,  and  thofe  who  had  diflin- 
guiflied  themfelves  the  moll  in  this  oppofm'on  to 
him  by  name.  He  treated  in  the  (iime  manner  the 
bifhops  of  Lombardy.  After  this,  Gregory  ad- 
drefled  a  letter  to  all  the  faithful,  imploring  their- 
afliftance  in  the  defence  of  the  church.  *'  If/  fays 
he,  "  you  believe  that  St.  Peter  has  received  fromf 
''  Chrift  the  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  you 
"  are  not  worthy  topaltake  ofhis  glory  in  heaven^ 
*'  if  you  do  not  take  part  of  his  fufFerings  below." 

In  the  mean  time  Guibert  archbifhop  cf  Ra- 
venna, fome  time  after  Eafler  afTembled  the  bifliops 
of  Lombardy;  when  they  again  excommunicated 
the  pope.  But  the  lords  were  divided  on  the  fub- 
je6l,  thinking  that  the  pope  could  not  be  judged 
by  any  perfon.  Many  perfons  in  Germany  and 
Italy  faid  the  fame  with  refpeft  to  the  king.  But, 
in  anfwer  to  this,  Gregory,  in  a  letter  to  Herman 
bifhop  of  Metz,  who  had  returned  to  his  obedience 
after  having  taken  part  with  Henry,  faid,  *'  Per- 
"  haps  it  will  be  faid  that  when  Chrifl  bad  Peter 
"  feed  his  fheep,  he  excepted  kingi ;  but  in  giving 
"  him  the  power  of  binding  and  loofing,  it  is 
"  plain  that  he  excepted  no  perfon ;  and  if  the  holy 

•'fef 


250 


tuE  HISTORY  OF  PtR.  XVtL 


"  fee  has  received  from  God  the  power  of  judging 
**  in  fpiritual  things,  why  fhall  fhe  not  alfo  judge 
''  in  things  temporal.  Perhaps  it  will  be  faid  that 
*'  the  royal  dignity  is  above  the  epifcopal,  but  the 
*'  diflFerence  may  be  feen  in  the  origin  of  both. 
*'  The  former  W3.s  the  invention  of  human  pride, 
"  whreas  the  latter  is  an  inftitution  of  divine  good- 
"  nefs;  and  therefore  St.  Ambrofe  fays,  that  the 
*"  epifcopacy  is  fuperior  to  royalty,  as  much  as 
*'  gold  is  fuperior  to  lead,  and  the  emperor  Con- 
*'  flantine  took  the  lafl  place  among  the  bifhops." 

This  letter  is  dated  Auguft  24,  a.  d  1076.  In 
it,  fays  Flcury,  we  fee  the  foundation  of  a  doftrine 
unheard  of  before,  viz.  that  the  pope  has  a  right  to 
depofe  fovereigns,  :  At  the  fame  time  he  addreffed 
a  long  letter  to  the  bifhops  and  the  people  of  Ger- 
many, vindicating  his  conduft  towards  the  king, 
from  his  total  difregard  of  his  repeated  admoniti- 
ons;  taking  it  for  granted  that  what  he  had  done 
m  confcquence  of  it  was  right.  In  another  letter 
he  urges  them  to  chufe  another  king,  if  Henry- 
did  not  fubmit  to  the  authority  of  the  church  ;  but 
in  this  cafe  he  faid  that  he  muft  be  confulted,  as 
well  as  Agnes  the  king's  mother. 

In  this  flate  of  things  many  deferted  the  part  of 
the  king,  even  fome  of  thofe  who  joined  in  the  ex- 
communication of  the  pope  ;  and  confefTing  their 
kult  they  were  received  into  favour  ;  while  others 

urged 


S-Ec.   I.    ^HE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  isi 

urged  the  king  to  take  his  revenge  for  the  infulto 
But  ajt  this  junfture,  the  formidable  fl;at«  of  the 
king's  enemies  made  this  very  hazardous.  At  the- 
head  of  them  were  Rudolph  duke  of  Suabia,  Guelf 
duke  of  Bavaria,  Adalberon  bifliop  of  Virfburgh 
Adalbert  bifhop  ofwWorms,  and  many  others; 
who  having  met  at  Ulm,  appointed  another  meet- 
ing at  Tribur  near  Mayence,  when  all  who  wifh-f 
ed  well  to  the  ftate  fliould  confider  of  the  remedic^^ 
to  be  applied  for  the  diforders  of  it.  Accordingly, 
the  lords  of  Suabia  and  Saxony  met  there  in  great 
numbers,  when  they  determined  to  depofe  Henry 
and  ele6l  another  king.  There  were  alfo  tivo  le- 
gates from  the  pope  at  this  meeting  i  one  of  whom, 
Altman  of  Paffau,  having  been  expelled  by  the 
king,  went  to  the  pope,  and  having  formally  re- 
nounced his  bifhoprick,  on  a  pretended  fcruple 
for  having  received  the  inveftiture  at  the  hands  of 
a  layman,  had  been  reinflated  by  the  pope. 

Henry,  who  was  not  far  from  the  place  of  this 
meeting,  being  greatly  alarmed  at  their  proceed- 
ings, fent  fo  them  to  make  many  concefTions,  even 
to  abandon  the  government,  and  to  retain  only 
the  outward  badge  of  royalty  ;  but  even  this  was 
not  deemed  fufficient.  They  propofed  to  refer  his 
fentenceto  the  pope,  who  was  to  be  at  Auglburgli 
at  the  feilival  of  the  purification  of  the  virgin  Mary; 
and  declared  that,  if  he  was  not  abfolved  from  his 

excorn- 


150 


<c 


'li 

It,  fa)  s 
unheaid  • 
dcpoP 
a  lonq  ^ 
many, 
l>om  bis  ■. 
ons  ;  taking 
in  confcqucncc 
lie  urges  them 
did  not  fubmit  U 
in  this  cafe  he 
well  as  Agnes  t) 
In  this  flate 
the  king,  even  1 
communication  <  t 
-ult  they  were  i 


I.       THE  CHRISTIAN  CK  RCH.  ssi 


If 


ihf  pope  would  abfolvc  liiitrom  his  cxcom- 

:ton,    he  would  afterward^  uilify   his  cori- 

)rehun  at  Augfbur;^h.      J:ci  fomc  difTi- 

1    pope  confcntcd,    but  nc  witliout  cxadl- 

il   humiliating  terms,  ml  treating  him 

•    jjreatefl   indignity.       bi   t!ic   king   oa 

CmofTa  left  all  bis   fuc  behind  him, 

..ny  marks  of  his  dii'^*-    •■  lited  three 

oted,    and  the  firft  Wiiuut  eating  any 

r!^  admitted  on    the  fourth    day    to 

of  this  haughty  p  he  was  ab- 

d  juft;fy  hit 
nauy,  whea 
Mil  that  time 

in, I      If    !,- 


me- 

to  abaii  . 

'.!'.r  outVN  .1    . 
notdccn^r  1 
fVntcncc  to  i'.. 
At  the  feflival  u. 


552  THE  HISTORY  OF       Pm.  XVII, 

excommunication  within  a  year  and  a  day  they. 
Ihoiild  confider  themfelves  as  no  longer  bound  by 
the  allegiance  they  had  fwrorn  to  him.  To  thefe 
Lard  conditions,  the  king,  feeing  no  remedy,  con- 
fented.  ^ 

Alarmed  at  this  oppofition,  and  determined  if 
poflible,  to  get  the  excommunication  taken  ofF  be- 
fore the  time  fixed  for  it  was  expired,  Henry  un- 
dertook a  journey  to  Italy,  tho'  it  was  in  the  midfl 
of  winter,  accompanied  by  his.  wife,  and  his  fon  yet 
an  infant.  Being  arrii^ed  in  Lpmbardy,  where  the 
people  were  irritated  againfl;  the  pope,  he  was  foon 
furrounded  by  a  confiderable  army,  hoping 
that  he  would  depofe  the  pope.  He  himfelf,  how- 
ever, faw  the  necesfity  he  was  under,  on  account  of 
the  flate  of  things  in  Germany,  to  perfift  in  jiis  pur- 
pofe,  and  therefore  proceeded  to  meet  the  pope, 
who  was  then  on  his  way  to  Augfburgh,  accompa- 
nied by  Matilda  countefs  of  Tufcany,  a  widow  or 
great  power  and  wealth,  and  much  attached  to  his 
interefts.  Gregory,  furprized  to  find  that  the  king, 
was  in  Italy,  went  to  the  caftle  of  Canoffain  Lom- 
bardy,  which  [belonged  to  Matilda.  There  he 
was  met  by  many  biftiops  and  other  perfuns  from 
Germany,  who  made  their  fubmisfion  to  him,  and 
doing  penance,  were  received  into  favour. 

By  the  intervention  of  the  countefs,  and   other 
perfoDs  to  [whom  the^  king  applied,  he  promifed, 

tbaf 


Sfc.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ssi 

tha*^  if  the  pope  would  abfolve  him  from  his  excom- 
iiianicuion,  he  would  afterv/ards  juili'fy  his  con- 
duct before  him  at  Augfburgh.  After  fome  diffi- 
culrv  the  pope  confented,  but  not  without  exa6l- 
ing  the  mofl  humiliating  terms,  and  treating  him 
with  the  greatefl:  indignity.  For  the  king  on 
coming  to  Canoffa  left  all  his  fuite  behind  him, 
and  without  any  marks  of  his  dignity  waited  three 
days  barefooted,  and  the  firft  without  eating  any 
thing.  Being  admitted  on  the  fourth  day  to 
the  prefence  of  this  haughty  prelate,  he  was  ab^ 
folved,  on  condiucn  that  he  fhouid  juftify  his 
conduft  at  the  general  diet  of.  Germany,  when 
the  pope  v/as  to  be  his  judge;  till  that  time 
he  fhouid  wear  no  badge  of  royalty,  and  if  he 
ihould  be  acquitted  of  the  crimes  laid  to  his  charge, 
he  fhouid  ever  after  live  in  obedience  to  the 
pope. 

This  paiTed  the  28th  of  January  a.  d.  107/0 
After  this,  the  pope  adminidered  the  communion 
and  declaring  his  own  innocence  of  the  things  of 
which  he  had  been  accufed,  he  took  a  part  of  the 
confecrated  wafer,  and  prefenting  the  other  parfc 
to  the  king,  he  defired  him  to  take  it,  if  he  alfo  was 
confcious  of  his  innocence.  The  kinn-,  not  pre- 
pared for  this,  hefitated ;  but  recoUefling  him- 
felf,  he  faid  that  no  j unification  would  be  of  an/ 
uvail  to  him,  except  in  the  prefence  of  his  friends,. 
Vol.  III.  Z  and' 


SS4,  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVII. 

and  his   accufers  ;    and    the  pdpe  gave  him    the 
communion  in  the  common  form. 

The  king's  friends  in  Lombardy,  hearing  of  this 
tranfaflion,  were  exceedingly  provoked  both  at 
hirn  and  the  pope,  and  were  determined  to  rejeft 
them  boih.  In  order  to  pacify  them,  after  ia 
vain  pleading  the  neceffity  of  his  affairs,  he  within 
a  fortnight  openly  broke  the  agreement  he  had 
made  with  the  pope,  and  was  foon  able  to  raife  a 
Conliderable  arrny. 

In  the  mean  time  the  king's  enemies  met  at 
Forfheim,  and  on  the  15th  of  March  a.  d.  10/7 
elefted  Rodolf  duke  of  Suabia  king ;  but  on  his 
declaring  himfelf  an  enemy  to  limony,  fuch  a  tu- 
mu't  was  raifed  againfl  him  on  the  very  day  of  his 
coronation,  that  an  hundred  perfons  were  killed  m 
the  fray.  Tho'  the  pope's  legates  were  prefent  at 
this  eleftion,  and  concurred  in  it,  he,  no  doubt 
conlidering  the  power  of  Henry,  did  not  think 
proper  to  declare  his  approbation  of  it;  but  faid 
that,  if  the  archbiOiops  and  bifhops  who  had  con- 
fecrated  him  did  not  give  a  good  account'  of  their 
condu6l,  they  fhould  be  depofed  frdm  their  dig» 
nities,  and  RodoU  from  the  kingdom.  In  an- 
other letter  he  faid  that  obedience  fhould  be  ren- 
dered to  him  of  the  two  who  fhould  obey  the 
orders  of  his  legates. 

Th«' 


;Seg.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  sh 

The  friends  of  Rodolf,  quite  difpirited  at  this 
unexpefted  timid  condu6l  of  the  pope,  wrote  him 
^n  expoflulatory  letter  on  the  fubje6l.  In  it,  they 
fay,  they  believed  his  intentions  to  have  been  good, 
but  that  they  could  not  penetrate  into  his  vie-  5. 
They  faw,  however,  the  fatal  efFe£ls  of  what  he 
had  done,  in  the  civil  war  that  muft  be  the  confe- 
quence  of  it,  in  innumerable  homicides,  plunder- 
ing, and  burnings;  for  that,  in  thefe  circum- 
flances,  they  could  only  live  by  rapine,  and  no 
property,  civil  or  ecclefiaftical,  would  be  fpared  ; 
in  fhort  there  would  be  an  abolition  of  all  laws, 
human  and  divine.  Thefe  evils,  they  add,  would 
not  have  exifted,  if  he  had  afted  fteadily,  neither 
turning  to  the  right  hand  nor  to  the  hh ;  that  his 
zeal  had  drawn  them  into  a  difficulty,  in  which  it 
tv-as  hazardous  to  advance,  arid  fhameful  to  re- 
cede. 

Henry,  taking  advantage  of  the  conflernatiou 
of  his  enemies,  endeavoured  to  feize  both  the  pof)e 
and  Matilda.  But  they  cfcaped  to  one  of  her 
fortreffes  in  a  mountain,  and  in  this  recefs  fhe  made 
io  the  fee  of  Rome  a  donation  in  writing  of  all  her 
cllates,  comprehending  Tufcany,  and  a  great 
part  of  Lombardy.  *     In  May  the  pope  returned 

Z    2  to 

*  This  donation  of  Matilda  vr^s  difputed  by  tlic 
emperors;  but  the  popes  ftill  enjoy  a  part  of  it,  MoS'^ 
hci/n,'  Vol.  2,  p.  281. 


456  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.XVI'1. 


/ 


to  Rome,    where  he  was  received  with  great  joy, 
and  at  a  council  held  there  in  a.  d.  1078,    it  was 
determined  to  fend  legates  to  Germany,  to  decide 
between  the  two  competitors  to  the  throne,    threat- 
ning  excommunication  to  any  perfon,  king,  bifhop, 
or  others,    who  fliould  oppofe    this  commiffion. 
The  pope  added  thefe   remarkable  words,    "  We 
r  bind  him  by  the  apoftolical  authority,  not  only 
"  as  to  the  fpirit,  but  as  to  the  body.       We  take 
*'  from  him  all  profperity  in  this  life,    and  vi8ory 
"  from   his  arms."       At  another   council  held  at 
Rome  in  November,  deputies  from  both  the  kings 
attended,  each  fwearing  for  his  matter,    that  they 
would  not  hinder  the  conferences  which  the  legates 
of  the  holy  fee  fhould  hold  in  Germany.     At  the 
fame  council   the  receiving  inveftiture   of  church- 
livings  from  the  king,    or  any  layman,    was  pro- 
hibited. 

In  A.  D.  1080  Henry  was  defeated  by  Rodoif; 
and  Gregory  hearing  of.it,  held  a  council  at  Roms, 
in  which  he  excommunicated  Henry  and  all  his 
abettors ;  taking  from  him,  he  faid,  the  kingdom 
of  Germany  and  Italy,  fo  that  he  Ihall  have  no 
force  in  battle,  and  never  gain  any  viftory.  He 
then  gave  the  kingdom  of  Germany  to  Rodoif  and 
abfolution  to  all  his  adherents,  with  the  benediaion 
of  the  apoftles,  both  in  this  life  and  the  other. 
All  this  was  done,    as  before,    in  the  form  of  an 

addrefs 


Sec.  I.      THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.'         3S7 

addrefs  to  the  apoflles  Peter  and  Paul,  to  whom 
he  fays,  *'  Let  all  the  world  know,  that  if  you 
"  have  power  to  bind  and  loofe  in  heaven,  you 
*•*  can  now  on  earth  give  or  take  away  empires, 
*'  kingdoms,  principalities,  dukedoms,  marquifates, 
*'  and  counties,  and  the  goods  of  all  men,  accord- 
**  ing  to  their  merits,  tor  you  have  often  taken 
"  from  unworthy  ptrfons,  and  given  to  the  good, 
"  patriarchates,  primacies,  archbilliopricks,  and 
«  bifhopricks.  For  if  you  judge  things  fpiritual, 
«'  who  can  believe  that  you  do  not  judge  things 
<«  temporal.  Let  the  kings  and  princes  of  the  age 
«•  then  learn  what  is  your  greatnefs  and  power, 
*•'  that  they  may  dread  to  defpife  the  orders  of 
''your  church ;  and  let  your  juflice  be  fo  fpeedily 
«  cxercifed  upon  Henry,  that  all  may  know  it 
«  does  not;  come  by  chance,  but  by  [your  pow- 
der."    Thisa6l  is  dated  March  7.  a.  d.  1080. 

When  Henry  heard  of  this  excommunication, 
nineteen  bifhops  of  his  party  affembled  at  May- 
ence  on  the  laft  of  May,  and  in  confequence  of 
their  letters  thirty  bifliops  and  many  lords  of  Ita- 
ly and  Germany  met  at  Brixen  in  Tyrol,  where 
they  pronounced  the  depofuion  of  Gregory  and 
cleded  Guibert  archbifliop  of  Ravenna,  who  took 
the  name  of  Clement  III,  tho'  there  was  no  perfosi 
prefent  to  reprefent  the  proper  church  of  Rome 
but  cardinal  Hugh, 

To 


558  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVU. 


Y  < 


To  ftrengthen  himfelf  again  ft  Henry,  Gregory 
applied  to  the  Norman  princes,  William  king  ot 
England,  and  Robert  duke  of  Calabria  ;  to  the 
former  of  whom  he  wrote  in  a  ftyle  very  different 
from  that  which  he  ufed  in  the  days  of  his  proipe- 
j'ny ;  exprefTing  the  confidence  he  had  in  his 
friendfhip,  and  promifing  him  not  only  aH  eternal 
recompence,  but  vi6lory  and  power  in  this  world. 
Notwithftanding  his  having  formerly  excommuni- 
pated  the  Norman  princes  of  Italy,  he  now  had  a 
conference  with  them,  and  received  them  into  fa- 
vour, on  their  promifing  him  their  affiflance.  Thus 
aided,  Gregory  fent  forth  the  mofl  violent  invec- 
tives againft  the  new  pope,  and  prppofed  to  march 
againft  him  with  an  army. 

In  Odober  a.  d.  1080,  Henry  was  again  de- 
feated by  Rodolf,  but  the  latter  was  flain  in  the 
battle;  and  on  the  fame  day  the  troops  of  Matilda 
were  defeated  in  Lombardy  ;  fo  that  the  affairs  of 
Henry  were  rather  advanced  than  otherwife.  In 
thefc  circumflances  Gregory,  writing  to  his  parti- 
fans  in  Germany,  exhorted  them  to  be  very  cauti- 
ous in  their  choice  of  another  king;  and  in  the 
form  of  the  oath  which  he  fent  them  to  adminifler 
to  him,  he  was  to  declare  himfelf  a  vaffal  of  St. 
|*eter,  and  to  promife  obedience  and  fidelity  to 
the  pope. 

Xn  March  a.  d.  108 1  Henry,  having  no  mor^ 

fear 


§EC.  I.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  353 

fear  of  the  Saxons,  came  into  Italy,  and  was  at 
Verona  in  Eafter,  and  about  the  fame  time  Gregory- 
held  a  council  at  Rome,  in  which  he  again  excom- 
municated Henry,  and  all  his  adherents.  This 
however,  did  not  prevent  Henry's  marching  to 
Rome,  which  he  did  the  following  May  ;  but  the 
people  oppofing  him,  and  Matilda  fending  aUift- 
ance  to  Gregory,  he  retired  to  Lombardy.  In  the 
mean  time  the  Saxons,  and  other  enemies  of  Hen- 
ry in  Germany,  made  choice  of  Herman,  lord  of 
Luxenbourgh,  to  fucceed  Rodolf. 

This,  however,  did  not  induce  Henry  to  go  to 
Germany,  and  in  a.  p.  1082  he  went  to  Rome, 
which  he  befieged  the  whole  year,  but   was  again 
obliged  to  retreat  to  Lombardy.     The  next  year 
Herman  would  have  come  to  the  relief  of  Gregory; 
but  the  flate  of  his  aEFairs  would  not  admit  of  it, 
and  Henry  once  more  advanced  to   Rome.     But 
finding  that  Hugh,  the  abbot  of  Clugny,  who  was 
then  in  Italy,  and  many  other  refpe6table  perfons, 
did  not  approve   of  his  conduft,  but   confidered 
him  as  an  excommunicated  perfcn,  he    was  defi- 
rous  of  juftifying  his  conduft  to  them,  and  expreff- 
ed  his  willingnefs  to  receive  the  imperial  crown  at 
the  hands  of  the  pope.     But  Gregory,  tho'  much 
urg^d  to  it  by  thofe  who  were  weary  of  the  war, 
refufed  to  do  this,  till  he  had  given   fatisfa6lion  to 
God,  and  the  church  ;  and  this  the  king  would  no$ 
^9'  Z  4  Xa 


3^0  THE  HISTORY  OP      Per,  XVI|. 

In  thefe  circum fiances  the  pope  held  another 
council,  the  king  giving  fafe  conda6l  to  thofe  who 
attended  it ;  and  on  this  occaiion  the  pope  was 
perfuaded  to  ufe  fome  moderation  :  for  he  did  not 
repeat  his  excommunication  of  Henry  himfelf,  but 
was  content  with  excommunicating  thofe  who  had' 
obftrufted  the  communication  with  Rome,  which- 
H:  nry  had  frequently  done.  Notwithftanding  all 
the  endeavours  of  the  people  of  Rome  to  make 
peace,  the  war  continued  feven  years,  and  in  all 
the  Hates  belonging  to  the  king  there  remained  but 
fcwbifhops  faithful  to  the  pope ;  being  either  ex- 
pelled from  their  fees,  or  having  retired  to  monaf- 
teries. 

At  length  in  March  a.  d.  1084,  Henry  forc- 
ed his  way  into  Rome,  and  there  received  the  im- 
perial crown  from  his  pope  Clement,  Gregory  re- 
tiring to  the  caftle  of  St.  Angelo,  which  Henry 
belieged.  Both  parties,  however,  kept  their  ground 
in  the  city,  till  Robert  Guifcard  compelled  Henry 
to  abandon  it,  and  retire  to  Lombardy,  which  he 
did  in  Alay,  but  a  great  part  of  the  city  w^s  pltin- 
dered  in  this  conteft. 

Gregory,  being    now  at  liberty,  held   another 
council    in  which  he  excommunicated   the    new 
pope   and    Henry,  who  now  went  to    Germany, 
leaving  his   pope  in    lombardy,  where  his  party  , 
were  defeated  by  the  forces  of  Matilda,  by  which 

if' 


Sec.  I.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  36i 

it  was  confiderably  weakened.  While  Henry  was 
in  Germany  councils  were  held  both  by  his  par- 
tilans,  and  thofe  of  Herman,  in  which  they  ex- 
communicated one  another. 

In  the  mean  time  Gregory  retried  to  Salerno, 
where  he  fell  iick,  and  died  the  25th  of  May,  a. 
D.  1085.  Bemg  urged  on  his  death  bed  to  ihew 
fome  indulgence  to  thofe  whom  he  had  excommu- 
nicated, he  faid  that,  excepting  Henry  himfelf, 
and  the  anipope,  he  abfolved  and  blelTed  all  thof« 
who  believed  that  he  had  the  power  of  doing  it. 
His  lafl;  words  were,  "  I  have  loved  righteoufnefs, 
*'  and  hated  iniquity,  and  therefore  I  die  in  exile." 
Thus  died  this  extraordinary  man,  refpe6table  for 
his  perional  qualities,  but  who,  mifled  by  his  paf- 
fions,  and  carrying  the  falfe  maxims  concerning 
the  papal  pow^r,  which  had  begun  to  prevail  be- 
fore his  time,  to  their  proper  extent,  not  only  in- 
volved himfelf  in  inextricable  dlfHculties,  and  a 
great  part  of  the  Chriftian  world  in  a  deflru6live 
civil  war,  but  laid  the  foundation  lor  various  mif- 
chiefs,  which  continued  many  centuries.  For, 
violent  as  his  conduct  was,  and  inconhftent  as  the 
piaxims  of  it  were  with  the  temporal  power  of 
princes,  they  were  never  reprobated  by  any  of  his 
fucceiTors,  but  were  refumed  by  them  whenever 
the  circumllances  of  the   times  were  favourable  to 

^hem, 

Z  5  In 


SCS  ,     THE  HISTORY  OF      Peh.  XVI|» 

In  all  tlilg  time  Clement  kept  poflfeflion  of  the 
church  of  St.  Peter  in  Rome ;  but  on  the  acceffi- 
oa  of  Viflor  II,  whp  was  Dcfiderius,  abbot  of 
Mount  Caffin  (and  who  did  not  confent  to  his 
eleftion  till  he  was  in  ^  manner  compelled  to  it) 
he  was  driven  out  of  it.  Still,  however,  he  kept 
poffeffion  of  a  great  part  of  the  city. 

On  the  death  of  Herman  in  a.  d.  1089,  the 
Saxons,  weary  of  their  oppofition,  received  Henry 
as  king;  and  thus  ended  this  long  civil  war.  In 
the  fame  year  the  people  of  Rome  expelled  Clc* 
ment,  after  making  him  take  an  oath  that  he  would 
no  longer  ufurp  the  holy  fee.  But  by  this  he  did 
not  appear  to  have  thought  himfelf  bound,  anc^ 
he  had  a  confiderable  party  even  in  Rome  two  years 
;^fter  his  expulfion,  the  friends  of  Henry  being 
very  powerful  in  Italy.  In  a.  p.  1081  pope  Ur- 
ban II  held  a  council  at  Benevento,  in  which  he 
excommunicated  Clement,  and  all  his  adherents. 

In  A.  D.  1093  Conrad  the  fo?i  of  Henry  re- 
volted againft  his  father,  and  in  a.  p.  1094,  Ur- 
ban had  fo  far  got  the  better  of  Clement,  that  he 
he]d  a  council  at  Placentia,  in  the  very  midft 
of  the  fchifmatics,  an4  was  met  by  two  hundred 
bifhops  more  than  four  thoufand  ecclefiaftics,  and 
thirty  thoufand  laymen ;  fo  that  no  church  being 
5ible  to  contain  fo  great  a  number,  they  met  in  the 
ppen  air.     In  this  council   Proxide,  the  wife  of 

Henry 


^Ec.  I.    THE  GHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  S6i 

Henry,  made  her  complaints  againfl  him,  in  con- 
fequence  of  which  many  of  his  adherents  aban- 
doned him.  After  this  council  Conrad  met  the 
pope  at  Cremona,  and  waited  upon  him;  and  on 
bis  fwearing  al  egiance  to  him,and  renouncuig  the 
right  of  inveiticure,  the  pope  received  him  as  a  true 
Ion  ot  the  church,  and  promifed  him  his  alfiflauce 
to  main-^ain  him  in  the  kingdom,  and  acquire  the 
imperial  dignity.  ^ 

Alter  this  the  pope  made  a  progrefs  into 
France,  where  he  held  the  famous  council  of  Cler- 
mont, of  which  an  account  will  be  given  in  the 
article  of  the  Crufades,  and  on  his  return,  being  af- 
fifted  by  the  Crufaders,  the  friends  of  Clement 
Were  driven  out  of  the  city  of  Rome,  and  held  on- 
ly the  caftJe  of  St.  Angelo.  Henry  was  alfo  driv- 
en out  of  Lombardy,  and  was  obliged  to  retire  into 
Germany. 

The  party  of  Clement  was  not,  however,  extinft. 
For  in  A.  D.  1098  they  held  a  council  in  Rome, 
he  himfelf  being  then  in  Lombardy  ;  and  at  the 
head  of  it  were  eight  cardinals,  the  principal  of 
whom  was  Hugh  above-mentioned  bifhop  of 
Prenefle.  They  invited  the  oppofite  party  to  a 
conference,  promifing  to  aim  at  nothing  but  the 
unity  of  the  church.  But  the  friends  of  Urban 
paid  no  attention  to  the  propofal,  defpifing  the  ef- 
forts of  a  dying  party ;  and  indeed  after  this  we 
liear  nothing  more  of  it. 

SECTION 


T«E  HISTORY  OF      Per.  xyi|. 


SECTION  II. 

Various  Injlances  of  the  claims  of  the  Popes  in  thi^ 
Period  to  Ecclefajlical  and  Civil  Power,  and  of 
the  Oppofition  that  was  fometimes  made  to  them, 

X.  X  AVING  been  unwilling  to  interrupt 
the  account  given  in  the  preceding  fe6lion  of  the 
general  ftate  of  the  papacy,  and  efpecially  the  hif- 
tory  of  Gregory  VI  I,  I  have  referved  for  this  fepa- 
rate  fe6lion  other  lefs  conneded  inflances  of  the 
claims  of  the  popes  to  power  civil  and  ecclefialli- 
cal,  an4  of  the  oppofition  that  the  more  intelligent 
and  more  fpirited,  of  the  clergy  or  laity  had  the 
courage  to  make  to  them.  I  would  obferve,  how- 
ever, in  this  place,  that  the  papal  claims  were  fa- 
voured by  the  ellablifhed  opinions  and  maxims  of 
the  times,  without  which  they  would  never  have 
been  allowed,  and  acquiefced  in  fo  tamely  as  they 
generally  were. 

On  the  occafion  of  the  coronation  of  the  em- 
peror Henry  in  a.  d.  1014,  Glaber,  in  a  hiftory 
addrelTed  to  Odilon  abbot  of  Clugny,  fays,  "  It 
*'  feems  reafonable,  and  well  eflabhlhed,  that  no 
"  prince  fliould  take  the  title  of  emperor,  but  he 
«  whom  the   pope  fhall  chufe  for  his  merit,  and 

«  to 


^EC.  II.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.        i^i 

"  to  whom  he  fhall  give  the  badges  of  that  dig- 
«'  nity." 

The  giving  of  kingdoms,  as  well  as  titles,  did[ 
iiot  begin  with  Gregory  VII.  Leo  IV,  who  was 
a  perfon  of  an  exemplary  life,  feeing  the  riling 
power  of  the  Normans  in  Italy,  perfuaded  the 
emperors  to  endeavour  to  put  a  flop  to  their  pro^ 
grefs,  and  put  himfelf  at  the  head  of  an  army  for 
that  purpofe,  which  was  the  firfl  time  that  any 
pope  headed  an  army  againft  chriftians,  the  em- 
peror having  before  this  granted  to  him  his  right 
to  the  city  of  Benevento,  in  exchange  for  an  annu- 
al payment  of  an  hundred  marks  of  filver  ;  a  white 
horfe,which  had  been  part  of  the  annual  allowance,' 
being  Rill  referved.  The  pope,  being  now  at  the 
head  of  an  army,  marched  againfl  the  Normans  ; 
but,  tho'  he  was  defeated  by  them,  he  was  treated 
with  much  refpeQ.  Afterwards,  both  parties  find- 
ing it  to  their  intereft,  the  Normans  confenled  to 
fwear  fealty  to  the  popes  for  their  poffellions  ia 
Italy,  and  alfo  thofe  in  Sicily  when  they  fhould 
conquer  it.  This  was  done  to  Nicolas  II,  in 
A.  D.  1059.  [Giannone,  Vol.  3,  p.  433.)  This  in- 
vefliture  was  renewed  by  Gregory  VIL  /^.  p.  463. 

Afterwards  Roger  count  of  Sicily  complaining 
of  the  appointment  of  the  bifhop  of  Trani  as  the 
pope's  legate  in  Sicily,  pope  Urban  II,  finding  it 
to  be  his  intereft  to  oblige  him,   appointed  him 

and- 


366  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVH, 

his  heirs  the  power  of  legates  of  the  fee  of  Rortid, 
promifing  that  whatever  he  fhould  have  to  do  bf 
legates  fhould  be  done  by  himfelf  arid  his  fuccef- 
fors,  [Giannone,  VoL  i,  p.  475)  and  that  whene- 
ver he  called  a  council,  they  might  fend  what  cler- 
gy they  pleafed  to  it.     In  virtue  of  this  bull,  the 
Sicilians  fay  that  their  princes  are  born  legates  oi 
the  holy  fee  ;  and  this  they   call  the  monarchy  of 
Sicily,  no    ether  country  having  that   privilege. 
But  the  court  of  Rome  fays  that,  if  the  bull  be  ge- 
nuine it  has  been  revoked  fince.      Clement  XI 
when  the  kingdom  of  Naples  came  to  the  duke  of 
Savoy  in  a.  d.  1715,  aboliftied  this  monarchy  of 
Sicily,  and  eftablilhed  aneweccleliaftical  hierarchy 
in  that  kingdom  ;  but  the  bull  had  no  effed.     No 
change  was  made  in  confequence  of  it,  and  much 
lefs  when   the  kingdorfi  returned  to  the  family  d£ 
Auflria.      Giannone,  Vol.  t,  p.  474. 

Tho*  the  principle  on  which  Gregory  VII  a£le(f 
was  avowed,  and  in  fome  degree  a61;ed  upon  be- 
fore his  time,  no  other  pope  had  recourfe  to  it  fo 
often,  or  carried  it  fo  far.  Of  his  condu£l  in  this 
refpeft  I  Ihall  give  fevcral  inftanc^s,  which  have 
tio  relation  to  his  conteft  with  the  emperor  Henry. 
Philip  king  of  France  not  being  willing  thaC 
Landri,  chofen  bifhop  of  Autun  by  the  clergy 
and  people,  ftiould  have  the  inveftiture  gratis, 
Gregory  wrote  to    Roclon   bifhop    of    Chalons, 

charging^ 


%c.  n.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH'  ^<d^ 

cliarging  him  to  endeavour  to  diflfuade  the  kiripg 
from  his  purpofe ;  faying  "  The  king  fhall  either 
"  renounce  fimony,  or  being  anathematifed,  the 
"  French  will  refufe  to  obey  him,  unlefs  they  will 
"renouncechriftianity;"  a  threatening, which  Henry 
fays  was  never  before  given  out  againll  any  fovereign. 

Great  diforders  prevailing  in  the  kingdom  of 
France  in  the  reign  of  this  Philip,  no  merchants 
or  pilgrims  being  able  to  travel  in  fafety,  Gregory 
wrote  to  the  bilhops,  urging  them  to  prefs  the 
king  to  exert  his  power  to  put  a  (lop  to  the  evil; 
jfaying  that,  if  he  proved  refraftory,  they  fhoulcj 
not  only  excommunicate  him,  and  lay  the  king- 
dom under  an  interdiQ,  but  oppofe  him  by  force, 
as,  he  fays,  they  were  very  well  able  to  do;  and 
in  thii.  cafe  he  promifed  them  the  afliftance  of  the 
holy  fee.  He  alfo  wrote  to  William  count  o£ 
Poi61;iers,  to  defire  him  to  join  the  bifhops  on  this 
occafion.     But  the  letters  bad  no  efFedl. 

Gregory  alfo  threatened  Alphonfus  kin  a:  of 
Leon  and  Caftile,  that  if  he  did  not  yield  to  his 
will  with  refpe£t  to  the  adoption  of  the  Roman' 
ritual,  and  fome  other  things,  he  would  himfelf  go 
into  Spain,  and  give  him  much  trouble,  as  an  ene- 
my of  the  chriflian  religion. 

Ebles  count  of  Rouci  in  Champagne  treated 
with  Alexander  II  for  all  the  conquefts  that  he 
ihouldbeable  to  make  from  the  Saracens  in  Spain. 

For 


568  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV II. 

For  at  Rome  it  was,  fays  Fleury,  taken  for  granted, 
that  the  kingdom  of  Spain  belonged  to  St.  Peter, 
or  the  church  of  Rome,  tho'  there  is  no  trace  of  fuch 
an  idea  before  that  time. 

In  A.  D.  1075  Gregory  wrote  to  Sue  no  king 
bf  Denmark,  to  know  whether  he  might  depend  up- 
on him  in  cafe  the  holy  fee  fhould  want  his  afliflance; 
faying,  "  There  is  near  us  a  rich  province  occupied 
*'  by  cowardly  heretics,  in  which  we  defire  one  of 
«'  your  fons  to  be  eftablifhed  as  its  prince,  and  th« 
defender  of  religion." 

The  emperor  Henry  was  not  the  only  prince 
of  that  age  that  ftiewed  a  difpofition  to  refill  the 
unreafonable  claims  of  Gregory.  When  he  wrote 
to  William  the  conqueror,  requiring  him  to  take 
an  oath  ot  fealty  to  him  and  his  fucceffors,  he  ab- 
solutely refufed,  as  he  faid  it  was  what  neither 
himfelf,  nor  any  of  his'predeceffors  had  ever  done; 
JDut  he  granted  him  his  claim  of  Peter  pence.  At 
this  the  pope  was  much  offended,  faying  that  he 
preferred  honour  to  money.  He  alfo  complained 
of  this  king  for  preventing  his  bifhops  from  going 
to  Rome;  faying  that  if  he  did  not  behave  with 
more  moderation,  he  would  draw  upon  himfelf  the 
indignation  of  St.  Peter. 

Writing  to  Herman  bilhop  of  Metz  in  a.  d, 
1081,  he  fays,  *'  More  power  is  given  to  every  ex- 
*'  crcifl,  than  to  a  lay  lord.   For  kings  and  princes 


Gnc.  II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  hih 

•r 
■'  who  do  not  live  like  chriftlans  are  the  flaves  of 

"  demons.     If,  then,  the  exorclft  has  received  em- 
*' pire  over  demons,    how    much  more  over    the 
*'  flaves  and  members  of  demons  ;  and  if  the  exor- 
"  cift  has  this  power,  how  much  more  thebifhop." 
This    pontiff,   be  fides    being   perfuaded   that 
temporal  power  ought  always  to  be  fubjeft  to  the 
fpiritual,  advanced  particular  claims  to  all  the  king- 
doms of  Europe,  and  even  to,  Pvuflia.      He  wrote 
to  the  judges  of  Sardinia,  th^rt  feveral  princes  had 
alked  their  country  of  him,  promifing  half  the  re- 
venues of  it:  but  that  he  had  refufed  till  he  could 
learn  what  they  would  do.  "  But"  fays  he,  *'  fince 
f*  you  are  devoted  to  St.,  Peter,  if  you  perfevere  as 
"  you  ought,  we  Ihall  allow   no   perfon  to   have 
"  your  country  ;  and  if  any  perfon   attempt  the 
^'  conquefl  of   it,  wewiil  obrnucl  his  defigns  by 
,"  methods  fpintual  and  temporal,"     He  alfo  alTu- 
med  a  right  to  decide  all  differences  among  chrif- 
lian  princes,  and  threatened,  in  the  cafe  of  a  difpute 
between  two  fons  of  count   Raimond   JBerenger, 
that  if  they  difobeyed  him,  and  continued  their  dit-» 
.ferences,  he  ^vould  take  the  grace  of  St.  Peter  from 
him  who  fhould  be  in  fault ;  fo  that  he  fhould  no 
more  gain  any  viftory  in  war,  or  profperity  in  this 
"*vorld.  -  ,  >,.  •  V 

But  perhaps,  the  mofl  extraordinary  of  all  the 
wild  pretenlions  of  this  pope  was  his  maintaining 
Vot,  III,  A  a  thae 


-♦^ 


m  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVIH 

that  all  pSpes  canonically  elefted  became  faints  of 
courfe.  Fleury,  however,  exprefles  his  wonder 
that  the  fcandalous  lives  o(  the  popes  in  the  tenth 
century  had  not  convinced  him  of  his  error. 

More  inftances  occur  in  this  period  of  oppofi- 
tion  to  the  ufurpation  of  the  popes  in  fpirituals  by 
the  bifhops,  than  in  temporals  by  the  princes  ;  the 
bifhops  having  the  advantage  of  a  knowledge  of 
the  antient  canons,  and  thefe  were  univerfally  con- 
fidered  as  of  tqual  authority  with  the  fcriptures. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  forged  decretals,  it  would 
*iiot  have  been  in  the  power  of  the  popes  to  exceed 
the  bounds  of  other  patriarchs, 

John  XVII  having  fenfc  a  legate  to  dedicate' 
a  church  at  Loches  in  the  diocefe  of  Tours  in 
France,  a  tempefi;  which  came  on  at  the  time  was 
faid  to  be  a  judgment  ot  God  for  the  violation  of 
the  canons,  the  pope  himfelf  having  no  power  to 
do  any  thing  in  the  diocefe  of  another  bifhop. 
This  was  faid  by  Glaber,  an  hiftorian  of  the  tim'c, 
tho'  he  was  a  monk  of  Clugny,  which  owned'  no 
fuperior  befides  its  own  abbot  and  the  pope.  The 
proper  diocefe  of  Rome,  Fleury  fays,  did  not  ex- 
tend beyond  the  bounds  of  the  city,  as  appeared  by 
Leo  IX  in  a.  d.  1049,  confirming  to  the  bifhop 
of  Porto  the  right  of  performing  clerical  fun6lions 
fceyond  the  Tiber. 

At 


Sec.  II.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCPI.  sri  ' 

At  the  council  of    Selingfladt  in  a.  d.  1022, 
it  was  declared  that   the  abfolution  of  the    pope 
without  that  of  the  bifhop  of  the  diocefe  where  the 
pilgrim  lived,  would  fignify  nothing.      Many  per- 
ibns  charged  with  fgreat  crimes,  having  refufed  to 
confefs  at  home,  had  gone  to  Rome,  to  get  abfolv- 
ed  there, 
.         At  the  councd  of  Limoges  in   a.  d.  1031,  i 
fimilar  complaint  was  made,  viz.  ofexcommunica- 
ted  perfons   getting  abfolution  of  the  pope    un- 
known   to  their  own  bifhops,  which   it  was   fair! 
Would  be  the  ruin  of  churches,  and   fet    afide  the 
decrees  of  councils  ;  when  one  who  attended    the 
fcouncil  faid-that,  when  Ponticus  coiiht  ofAuvergne 
had    been    excommunicated  fome  time  before  bv 
Stephen  bifhop  of  Clermont,  and  had  got  abTolved 
at  Rome,  the  pope   being  informed  of  it  declared 
that  he  did  not  know  (bat  he  was  in  a  ftate  of  ex- 
communication.     "    I   declare"  faid  he,   *'    to  all 
"  my  brethren,  the  biihops,  that  far  from   contra- 
*'  diaing,  I  only  pretend  to  aid  and  comfort  them, 
"  God  forbid  that  I  (hould  mate   a   fchifm  with 
"  them,"  and  he  annulled  the  abfolution. 

Atthe  council  of  Anfe  in  a.  d.  102.;^,  Gauflm 
bifhop  of  Macon  complained  of  Bouchard  arch- 
fcifhop  of  Vienna,  that,  without  his  pcrmiffion,  he 
had  ordained  monks  within  his  diocefe,  viz.  at 
the  monaflcry  of  Clugny.     And   tho'  the  exprcfs 


srs  tlil^  HISTORV  OF       Per.  XV  n 

permi/Iion  of  the  pope  was  pleaded  for  the  piivl* 
lege  of  the  abbot  of  Clugny  employing  what  bi« 
ihop  he  pleafed,  it  was  faid  that  the  canons,  which 
ordered  it  to  be  done  by  the  bifhop  of  the  diocefe, 
was  fuperior  to  any  other  authority ;  and  the  arch* 
bifhop  being  convinced  alked  pardon.  This  ex- 
ample, fays  Fleury,  and  that  of  the  dedication  of 
tl-te  monaftery  at  Loches,  fhews  that  the  biftiops 
ofthis  age  did  not  think  the  popes  above  the  ca- 
nons. 

The  pope's  legate,  the  aichbiOiop  of  Laon,  in- 
filling on  the  archbifhop  of  Sens  fwearing  allegi- 
ance to  him  as  his  primate,  the  clergy  refufed  to 
obey,  and  Ivo  of  Chartres  wrote  to  expoftulatc 
with  him  on  the  fubjefl ;  faying  that  they  could 
not"  aft  contrary  to  the  authority  of  the  Fathers, 
and  the  eftablifhed  cufloms  ;  and  he  cited  the  au- 
thority of  feveral  popes,  who  declared  that  they 
would  make  no  innovation  againft  tradition,  and 
the  authority  of  the  canons.  He  alfo  v/rote  to  ths 
pope  himfelf^on  the  fubjeft. 

The  canonization  of  faints  began  to  be  appror 
priated  to  the  popes  in  thjs  period;  and  the  firft 
inftance  of  it  was  that  of  Udalric  twenty  years  af- 
ter his  death,  by  John  XV,  in  a.  d.  993.  The 
a6l  expreffed,  that  the  memory  of  faints  Ihould  be 
honoured,  that  the  honour  done  to  the  faints,  and 
to  their  relics,  returns  to  the   Lord,   who  faid,   he 

that 


|ec.II.  the  christian  church.  z'^3 

that  receivethyou  receiveth  me  ;  and  that  the  pbjeO: 
of  this  honour  was  that  men  might  be  aided  by 
their  prayers  and  merits.  When  faints  were  ca- 
nonized at  this  time,  altars  were  ere6ied  over  their 
bodies.  This  was  done  to  R,omuald  five  years  afr 
ter  his  death  in  a.  d,  1027.  . 

The  difpenfing  with  vows  was  univerfally  al- 
lowed to  the  popes  of  this  time.  When  Cafimer, 
a  monk  of  Clugny,  became  heir  to  the  kingdom 
of  Poland,  pope  Benedift  IX  gave  him  leave  to 
fecuralize.  He  had  been  referred  to  the  pope  by 
Odilon  the  abbot,  who  faid  that  he  had  not  the 
power  to  difpenfe  with  his  vows. 

Before  1  conclude  this  article  relaing  to  the 
popes,  I  fhall  obferve,  that  at  a  council  in  Rome 
in  A.  D.  1059,  it  was  decreed  that  for  the  future 
the  cardinal  bifhops  fhould  firfi  cdnfiderof  a  pro- 
per perfon  to  be  pope,  then  the  cardinal  clergy, 
and  that  then  the  reft  ot  the  clergy,  and  the  peo- 
ple fhould  give  their  confent.  This  rule  was  made 
in  confequence  of  there  having  been  much  confu- 
fion  in  theeleQion  of  Nicolas  II.  This  law  was 
not,  however,  immediately  acquiefced  in  ;  and  to 
(|uiet  the  clamours  of  the  principal  of  the  clergy, 
fome  of  them  were  afterwards  admitted  to  the  rank 
of  cardinal  prefbyters,  and  to  pacify  the  inferior 
clergy forne  of  them  were  made  cardinal   deacons. 


374  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XVU. 

The  cardinal  bifhops  were  thofe  of  the  territoj^  of 
Rome.     MoJJidm,  Vol.  2,  p.  262. 

Here  I  would  obferve  that  the  dignity  of  Car^ 
dinal  was  much  advanced  in  this  period  ;  and  efpe- 
cially  as  they  were  not  only  the  eleftors  of  the 
popes,  but  the  popes  were  generally  chofen  out  of 
their  body.  It  was  not,  however,  till  a.  d.  1458 
that  Paul  II  gave  them  the  dillinftion  of  a  red  hat, 
and  it  was  Urban  VIII  who  gave  them  the  title 
of  eminence.  Still,  however,  there  remain  traces 
of  their  former  condition.  For  tho'  the  pope  calls 
all  bifhops  his  brethren,  he  calls  the  cardinals  his 
beloved  children.     Sueur,  a.    d.   964.     Pi^ctj  a.^ 

J).  1059. 

By  |nuch  addrefs  the  popes  got  rid  of  their  con- 
firmation by  the  emperors.  When  Leo  IX,  at 
the  requeft  of  the  people,  was  made  pope  by  the 
emperor  Henry  III,  he  was  perfuaded  by  Hilde- 
brand,  afterwards  Gregory  VII,  to  ftrip  himfelf 
of  his  pontifical  robes,  and  entering  Rome  as  a 
pilgrim,  get  himfelf  eleQed  by  the  people  and  cler- 
gy, in  order  %o  fet  afide  the  ele6lion  by  a  layman. 
By  the  management  of  the  fame  Hildebrand,  Alex- 
ander II  was  eleded  pope  without  the  confent  of 
the  emperor  Henry  IV,  who  in  vain  oppofed  the 
eleftion  by  fetting  up  another  pope.  Giannone, 
Vol.  p.  452.     In  former   times,   not  only  was  the 

biU 


Sec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         STS 

but  they  received  for  it  twenty  pounds  of  gold  for 
their  confirmation.     Sueur,  a.  d.  964. 

Mention  was  made  in  a  preceding  period  of  a 
pope  who  was  a  foreigner  changing  his  name. 
The  firft  pope  who  was  a  native  of  Rome  that  did 
this,  was  Bocco  di  Porco,  in  englifh  hog's  fnout^ 
who  called  himfelf  Sergius  IV  in  a,  d.  1009. 


SECTION  III. 


Of  the  CharaBer  of  the  Clergy  in  this  Period, 

V-^OM PLAINTS  of  the  diforderly 
lives  of  the  clergy  were  as  frequent  in  this  period  as 
in  any  of  the  former  ;  the  fuperior  clergy  being  as 
diffolute  as  the  laity  of  the  fame  fortunes,  and  liv- 
ed in  the  fame  manner. 

Ratheriusbiihop  of  Verona  in  a.  d.  974  makes 
loud  complaint  of  the  licentioufnefs  of  the  clergy 
in  his  time.  "  When"  fays  he  "  I  was  tranflated 
"  to  Liege,  one  bifhop  obje6led  to  me  the  canon 
"  againft  tranllations,  when  he  himfelf  was  addi6l- 
"  ed  to  wine  and  gaming,  had  hounds  and  hawks, 
"  and  did  not  keep  his  relidence.  I  have  heard 
**  two  of  them  reproach  one  another,  that  the  one 

A  a  4  "  car- 


3Y'a  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVII. 


c< 


V  carried  arms,  and  the  other  kept  a  concubine, 
*'  that  one  had  committed  adultery  before  his  or- 
^'  dination,  and  the  other  had  married  after  ordi- 
"  nation.  Can  we  wonder,"  he  adds, '-'  after  this 
"  that  laymen  are  not  flruck  with  the  menace* 
which  we  draw  from  the  fcriptures  and  the  ca- 
nons, when  they  fee  that  we  laugh  as  we  arc  read- 
ing them,  and  ourfelves  perfift  in  defpifing  them. 
*'  This  is  the  reafon  why  they  make  fo  little  ac- 
^  count  of  our  excommunications  and  abfolutions, 
*'  becaufe  they  fee  that  we  ourfelves  ftand  excom- 
•^  municated  by  the  canons."  There  was  not  one 
of  his  clergy  at  Verona  but,  he  fays,  kept  a  con- 
cubine, either  publicly  or  privately. 
^  Indeed  this  clergy  of  Lombardy  feem  to  have 
3beenthe  moil  diforderly  of  any  in  this  refpcfl;.  At 
a  council  held  at  Pavia  in  a.  d.  1020,  Benedi£l 
Ylll  complained  of  the  licentious  lives  of  the  cler- 
gy, that  they  diihpated  the  wealth  of  their  churches 
an  the  open  maintenance  of  their  concubines  and 
the  children  they  had  by  them.  To  put  a  flop  to 
this  pra6lice  in  feme  meafure,  it  was  decreed  that 
the  children  of  clergymen,  even  by  free  women, 
ihould  rank  with  ferfs.  The  emperor  Henry  con- 
■iirmed  this  regulation.  At  a  council  in  Rome  is.- 
A.  D.  1050,  it  was  ordered  that  thofe  women  who 
proftituted  tbemfelvcs  to  priefts  fhould  be  fiaves 
to  the  palace  of  the  Lateran.     At  another  council 


Seg.  in.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  Sff 

in  the  fame  city,  in  a.  d.  1059,  It  was  decreed 
that  a  clergyman  who  had  kept  a  concubine  fliould 
not  perform  mafs,  or  receive  his  lliare  of  the  reve- 
nues of  the  church,  and  that  thofe  who  kect  their 
continence  fhould  eat  and  fieep  together,  near  to 
the  church  in  which  they  were  ordained,  and  have 
in  common  wliat  they  received  from  the  church. 
This,  Fleury,  fays,  was  the  origin  of  the  regular 
€a7ions. 

In  A.  D.  1067  Alexander  II  fent  legates  to 
Milan,  which  was  a  fceneof  the  greatefl  diforder, 
the  clergy  keeping,  women  in  the  moft  public  man- 
ner, and  the  children  they  had  by  them ;  and 
where  all  bene  fices  were  openly  fold,  with  confti- 
tutions  ejipresfty  provided  for  that  diocefe.  They 
conclude  with  obferving  that  becaufe  many  per- 
fons  paid  more  regard  to  temporal  punifhments 
than  to  thofe  that  are  eternal,  they  who  did  not 
obfervc  the  conRjiutions  fhould  pay  fines  accor- 
ding to  their  ranks  (which  are  particularly  fpeci- 
fied]  and  that  till  the  fin@«  were  paid,  they  were  to 
be  in  a  flate  of  interdift. 

So  common  was  concubinage  with  the  clergy 
of  Germany,  that  when  two  councils  were  held 
in  A.  D.  1074  by  the  legates  of  Gregory  Yll  for 
thepurpofeof  reprefling  it,  they  abfolutely  refufed 
to  comply.  This  vice,  and  fimony,  being  almoff; 
tiniverfal  in  this  country,  this  pope  wrote  in  the 
^*  A  35  moil 


^fg  THE  HISTORY  OF       Pbr.  XVII. 

mofl  earneft  manner  to  fevsral  of  the  bifhops  on 
the  fubjeft,    urging  them    to  ufe    every  means  in 
their  power,  even  that  of  force,  to  compel    their 
clergy  to  conform  to  the  antient  canons.     At   a 
council  at  Mayence  in    a.  d.  1075,   ^^  ^^^^  ^  ^^' 
gate  with  orders  to  oblige  all  the  clergy   of  that 
province  to  difmifs  their  wires,  or  relinquifh  the 
fervice   of  the  altar ;  but  when  the  archbifhop  of 
the  place  would  have  executed   the  order,  all  the 
clergy  who  were  prefent  expreflfed  fo  much  indig 
nation,   that  he  was  in  danger  of  his  life,  and  tb 
fcheme  was  obliged  to  be  given  up. 

In  England  fome  of  the  priefts  had  two  wives, 
or  even  more,  and  this  abufe  it  is  faid  was  com- 
mon. A  council  called  by  king  Ethelred  at  Eng- 
ham  made  thirty  two  canons  for  tlje  reformation  of 
the  morals  of  the  clergy.  They  were  ordered  ti3 
difmifs  their  wives,  and  they  who  kept  their  cor  -^ 
nence  weie  promifed  to  be  treated  as  the  nobles. 
Unfortunately  the  marriage  of  priefts  was  confider- 
cd  in  the  fame  light  as  concubinage. 

Simony  was  another  great  complaint  of  this 
period,  and  fo  common  that  few  perfons  thought 
it  to  be  any  lin.  As  ordination  by  a  fimoniac  was 
deemed  to  be  invalid,  much  difficulty  was  necefla- 
rily  occafioned  by  the  commonnefs  of  this  vice, 
and  the  councils  were  obliged  to  remit  of  the  ftri6l- 


ne 


fs 


Sec,    III.  the  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.        3/9 

nefs  of  difcipline  in  this  refpeft.  At  a  council  in 
Rome  in  a.  d.  1047,  it  was  agreed  that  a  perfoii 
who  knew  that  he  had  been  ordained  by  a  fimoni- 
ac  Ihould  continue  his  fun£lions  after  forty  days 
penance  ;  and  at  another  council  in  the  fame  city 
in  A.  D.  1059,  they  were  allowed  to  continue  their 
funftions,  as  an  indulgence  on  account  of  the  ftate 
of  the  times,  but  that  for  the  future  if  any  one  was 
ordained  by  one  whom  he  knew  to  be  a  fimoniac 
they  Ihould  both  be  depofed. 

When  church  livings  were  bought,  the  clergy 
would  naturally  endeavour  to  make  the  moft  of 
them,  and  get  all  the  money  they  could  in  other 
ways  ;  and  as  the  intereft  of  the  more  eminent  of 
the  clergy  in  councils  was  confiderable,  this  alfo 
was  an  article  which  had  its  price.  Damiani 
fays,  that  he  knew  one  ot  his  brethren  who  rejoic- 
ed at  the  approach  of  a  council,  as  cf  a  harveft  or 
vintage,  and  had  emiilaries  to  draw  to  him  money 
from  all  quarters  on  fuch  occafions, 

Ratherius  biftiop  of  Verona  in  a.  d.  974, 
complains  that  the  priefls  and  deacons  divided  a- 
liiong  them  all  the  revenuoc  of  the  church,  while 
the  fubdeacons,  acolyths,  and  the  reft  ot  the  infe- 
rior clergy  had  not  enough  to  live  on.  By  this 
means,  fays  Fieury,  the  funftions  of  the  inferior 
clergy  game  to  be  difconjinue^ 

I  fhall 


S50  TOE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XVU, 

"  I  ftiall  conclude  this  general  account  of  the 
fimony  with  which  the  clergy  of  this   period   are 
charged,  with  a  particular  account  of  an  inftance  - 
of  it,  as  this  will  give  us  a  clearer  idea  cf  the  fpirit 
and  n^nners  of  thefe  wretched  times. 

At  the  council  of  Thouloufe   in  a.  d.    1059; 
the  vifcount  of  Narbonne   complained  that  Geo- 
frey  had  been  made  biihop  of  that  city  at  the  age 
of  ten  years  for  a  hundred  thoufand  fous  ;  promi- 
fintr  to  be  a  friend  to  his  family,  of  which  it  was 
purchafed,  and  that  the  fee  fhould  not  be  a  fuffer- 
er  ;  but  that  when  he  came  of  age,  in liead  of  be- 
ing in  friendfhip  with  him,  he  had  made   a  cruel 
war  upon  him,  in   which  almoft  a  thoufand  per- 
fons  had  been  killed  on  both  fides ;   that  he  had 
feized  the  cafLlcs  and  lands   of  the  church,    and, 
given  them  to  his  friends  ;   that  he  had  feized  the 
bifhoprick  of  Urgel  and  given  it  to  his  brother  for 
a  hundred  thoufand  fous  ;    that  to  raife  this  fum 
the  latter  had  fold  the   treafure  of  his  church,  and 
the  valuable  utenfils  belonging  to  it ;  and  to  fe- 
cure  himfelf,  had  put  himfelf  under  the  prote£lion 
cf  the  countefs  of  Urgel.   He  further  accufed  him 
of  violating  the  truce  of  God   after  having   fworn 
to  obferve  it;    that  tho*  he  had  propofed  to  refer 
their  differences  to   the  pope,  he  had  paid  no  re- 
gard  to   the  propofal,   but   had  excommunicated 
himfelf  and  his   wife   and  children^    and   laid  all 

hisi 


isc,  lit.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHltRCH.         s&i 

Bis  eftates  under  an  interdift.  "  If  fays  he,  "  it 
*'  was  not  for  the  fear  of  God,  I  would  make  no 
'*  account  of  the  excommunication  of  a  man  load- 
*'  ed  with  fo  many  crimes,  and  anathematized  by 
pope  Vi6lor"  (fuppofed  to  have  been  at  the  coun- 
cil of  Florence  in  the  year  befor°)  "  We  know"  he 
added,  "  that  he  has  fold  all  the  holy  orders  that 
"  he.has  conferred.  He  refufed  to  con fecrate  the 
-'  churches  in  my  ellatcs  unlefs  he  received  the  fa- 
*'  laries  of  them.  Wherefore  I  make  my  com- 
*'  plaint  to  God  and  you,  and  demand  juftice.  If 
*'  I  do  not  obtain  it  I  fhall  pay  no ,  regard  to  his 
''  excommunication,  and  ffiall  not  keep  the  truce 
"  in  my  eliates."  He  then  renevred  his  propofal 
to  go  to  Rome  ;  faying  the  bifhop  would  not  go 
except  in  bonds*  What  was  done  in  confequence 
of  this  does  not  appear. 

The  hiflory  of  Peter  biihop  of  Florence  a.  d. 
1063  is  flill  more  extraordinary.  He  was  made 
biftiop  by  his  father,  who  was  a  nobleman  of  Pa- 
via,  purchafing  that  dignity  for  him.  In  confe- 
fequenceof  this,  the  monks,  with  John  Gualbert* 
founder  of  the  celebrated  raonaftery  of  Valambro- 
fa  near  Florence  at  their  head,  fupported  by  one 
Theufon  a  reclufe,  refufed  to  communicate  with 
him,  confidering  him  as  a  fimoniac,  and  confe- 
quently  a  heretic.  However,  Damiani,  tho*  a 
great  reformer,  oppofed  them  in  this,  becaufe  he 

had 


382 


THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVlh 


had  not  been  judicially  condemned.  The  monks, 
not  at  all  conciliated  by  the  advice  of  Damiani, 
continued  their  oppofition  ;  and  by  the  advice  6t 
Theufon,  Gualbert  made  proclamation  in  the  pub- 
lic fquare  of  the  city,  that  the  bifhop  was  a  fimo- 
ftiac,  and  by  this  means  excited  the  people  in  ge"- 
neral  againfl:  him. 

The  bifhop,  feeing  a  great  part  of  the  clergy 
and  the  body  of  the  people,  animated  againfl;  hini, 
fent  a  number  of  armed   men  in  the  night   to  df?- 
ftroy  the  monafl;ery  of  St.  Salvi,  which   was  near 
the  city,  and  under  the  condu61;  of  Gualbert.  Him 
they  did  not  find,  but  they  fell  Avord  in   hand  on 
the  monks  they  found  there,  wounding  fome   of 
them   very  dangeroufly,   and   ftripping    the   refl. 
They  then  overturned  the  altar,  plundered  every 
thing   they  met  with,   and  fet  fire  to  the  lo4ge5. 
The  people,  inflamed  with  this    violent   proceed- 
ing, took  the  part  of  the  monks,   and  with   Gual- 
bert brought  an  accufation  againfl  the  bifhop  at  a 
council  held  at  Rome  a.  d.  1063,  under  Alexan- 
der II,  attended  by  more  than  a  hundred  bifhops, 
ofiPerincT  to  prove  the  charge  of  fimony  by  the  or- 
deal of  fire.     But  the  majority  of  the  bifhops  fa- 
vouring their  brother,  the  pope  would  not  depofe- 
him,  or  even  allow  of  the  trial  by  fire  ;  tho'  Hilde- 
brand,  then  archdeacon,  and  afterwards  pope  Gre- 
gory VII.  took  the  part  of  the  monks. 

The 


^Ed.  IIL  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  Ssi 

The  bifliop,  being  acquitted  at  Rome,  perfe- 
tuted  the  monLs  with  great  violence,  and  alfo  thofe 
of  the  clergy  who  refufed  to  communicate  witk 
him ;  (o  that  the  archprieft  and  many  others  took 
refuge  in  the  monaftery  of  Septima,where  Guaiberft 
received  them.  But  the  party  of  the  bifliop  was 
fupported  by  Godfrey  duke  of  Tufcany,  wha 
threatened  his  oppofers  with  death. 

The  pope  hoping  to  allay  this  diflurbance 
went  himfelf  to  Florence,  but  returned  without  any 
fuecefs.  He  found  the  monks  clamorous  for  the 
trial  by  fire,  and  faw  the  wood  they  had  prepared 
for  the  purpofe ;  but  he  would  not  fee  the  expe- 
riment. After  this  the  clergy  and  the  people  in 
general,  perfifting  in  their  purpofe,  aflemblcd,  and 
complained  violently  of  the  bifhop,  urging  hi n^ 
to  fee  the  proof  of  his  guilt  by  the  fire.  But,  like 
the  pope,  he  would  not  confent  to  this,  and  im- 
prifoned  or  banifhed  thofe  who  would  not  fubmit 
to  him. 

This  meafure  increafed  the  ferment,  and  pre- 
paration having  been  made  for  their  favourite  mods 
of  trial  by  fire  at  the  monaftery  of  Septima,  by 
making  two  piles  of  wood,  ten  feet  long,  five  feet 
broad,  and  four  feet  high,  feparated  by  a  fpaceof  fix 
feet,  wliich  was  alfo  covered  with  hot  embers  ;  on  the 
day  fixed  for  it,  a  vaft  croud  of  people,  with  many 
women  and  children,  not  lefs  than  thrte  ihoufand, 

W€n£ 


V  » 


384         ■  THE  HISTORY  Of        Per.  XVII. 

went  to  the  place,  ivhich  was  feven  miles  from  the 
city.  All  things  being  ready,  after  much  folemn 
religious  ceremony,  and  the  recital  of  a  prayer  fuit- 
td  to  the  occafion,  a  monk  of  the  name  of  Peter 
dreffed  in  a  clerical  habit,  which  was  loofe  and 
flowing,  and  holding  a  crucifix  in  his  hand,  very 
deliberately  walked  through  a  quantity  of  hot  em- 
bers, up,  it  was  laid,  to  his  ancles,  without  receiving 
the  leaft  hurt  Neither  his  garments,  which  were 
of  linen^  nor  the  hairs  of  his  legs  were  fo  much 
as  finged.  . 

,  An  account  of  this  tranfadiion  was  immediate- 
ly fent  to  the  pope  by  the  clergy  and  people,  deli- 
ting  him  to  deliver  them  from  their  bifhop,  thus 
dearly  proved  to  be  a  fimoniac,  and  he  thought 
proper  to  depofe  him.  He  not  only  fubmitted  to  the 
fentence,  but  became  a  monk  in  the  monaftery  of 
Septima.  The  monk  Peter,  who  went  through 
the  fire,  was  of  the  family  pf  the  Aldebrandini, 
and  was  made  abbot  of  Ficicle.  He  was  after^ 
wards  made  a  cardinal  and  bifhop  of  Albania,  and 
always  went  by  the  name  of  Peter  Jgneus.  By 
what  means  he  went  through  the  fire  without  re- 
ceiving any  hurt,  it  is  impoffible  at  this  diftance  of 
time  to  difcover.  It  is  evident  that  the  whole  was 
under  the  management  of  the  monks,  and  they 
made  it  anfwer  their  purpofe.     Some    farther  ob- 

fervations 


dec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH^         38^ 

fei-vations  on  this  fuppofed  miracle  will "  be  found 
in  the  mifcallaneous  fe6lion  of  this  period. 

In  both  theinflances  we  fee  with   what  readi-* 
nefs  the  clergy  had  recourfe  to  arms ;  but  the  rhoft 
X'iolent  thing  of  this  kind  that  occurs  in  the  courfe 
of  this  period  was  a  fray  thatfhappened  in  the  ca- 
thedral of  Goflar    in  a.  d.  1063,     then  the  red- 
denoe  of  the  court,   Henry  IV,    then  very  youngs 
being  prefent.     The  two  parties  were  thofe  of  Her 
cilon  bifhop  of  Hildedieim,    and  Viclerad  abbot 
of  Fulda,  and  the  occafion  of  it  was  nothing  more 
than  a  difpUte  about  p-acing  the  feats  at  vefpres* 
Slight,  howevefj   jas-waS  the  original  caufe,  thefe 
great  prelates  interefting  themfelves   in  -it.;  -pro- 
vided men  with  arms,   determined  each  of  them  to 
carry  their   refpe6live  points  ;     and  not  only  did 
they  fight  in  the  church,  but  many  were  killed  on 
the  altar  itfelf-;  the  bifhop  from  an  elevated  litua- 
-tion  encouraging  his  men   to  fight  wixhout  regard 
to  the  place,     or  the  prefence   of  the  young  king, 
who  was   with    great    difficulty    got    out-.       The 
bifhop's   men  had  the  advantage,     and   drove  the 
others  Out  of  the   church.       The  citizens,    how- 
ever, took  the  part  of  the  abbot,  and  were  prepar- 
ed to  attack  the   bifhop's  men,    when   they  came 
out;  but  night  put  an  end  to  the  combat,    and  fa- 
voured their  cfcape.     The  abbot  was'moft  blamed 
as  he,  came  attended  with  fo  many  armed  merfj 
toL,   in,  Bb  m^ 


n6  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XV  it^ 

and  it  is  thought  that  he  would  have  been  de- 
prived of  his  abbey,  but  that  he  faved  himfelf  by 
money.  , 

We  fhall  the  lefs  wonder  at  the  bifhops  and 
abbots  of  this  period  having  recourfe  to  arms, 
when  it  is  confidered  that  their  great  eftates  enabled 
them  to  live  in  the  ftyle  of  princes,  and  to  make 
ufe  either  of  the  fpiritual  or  the  temporal  fword 
as  they  faw  occafion.  Adalberon  11  bifhop  of 
Metz  about  a.  d.  995  profecuted  with  vigour  thofe 
who  plundered  the  poffeffions  of  the  church,  or  of 
the  poor;  and  when  they  defpifed  his  ecclefiafti- 
cai  cenfures,  he  employed,  as  the  hiflorian  fays, 
the  armofflefh,  ravaging  the  lands,  and  demolifti- 
ing  the  caftles,    of  his  oppofers.  * 

Robert  archbifhop  of  Rheims  lived  altogether 
like  -a  prince,  occupied  with  his  temporal  affairs 
and  his  pleafures.  He  even  married  a  wife,  with 
whom  he  lived  in  public,  and  had  three  children. 
He  is  much  praifed  for  his  liberality',  efpecially 
with  refpe£l:  to  churches.  He  rebuilt  his  own  ca- 
thedral from  the  foundation.  He  was  archbifhop 
■forty-eight  years,  and  died  a.  d.  1037.     Towards 

the 

*  The  empire  being  full  of  diforder  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  IV,  Annon  archbifhop  of  Cologne  was  dcfa-ed 
by  the  king  and  the  nobles  to  take  upon  him  the  govern-- 
ment  of  the  ftate,  and  he  foon  put  a  Hop  to  the  vio-- 
lences. 


sic.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  3s/ 

the  clofe  of  hislife,  he  did  penance  for  hi^  uncano- 
liical  mode  of  living. 

Otho  the  Great  was  particularly  diftihguilliect 
for  his  liberality  to  the  church,  influenced,  it  is 
fiid,  by  the  luperftition  of  his  wife  Adelaid.  Mof- 
helm,  Vol.  2.  p.  188.  But  it  was  not  till  the 
reign  of  Otho  III  that  the  principal  bifhops  of 
Germany  made  great  advances^ifi  their  iflyle  and 
mode  of  living,  in  which  they  imitated,  and  equal- 
led, the  great  lay  lords.'  Like  them  they  had 
profelTed  cooks,  magnificent  hotels,  and  buflPoons, 
and  obtairied  of  the  emperor  leave  to  hunt  all  kinds 
of  wild  beafts.   Sucur^ 

When  bifhops  refembled  fecular  princes  fd 
much  in  their  manner  of  life,  it  is  not  extraordi- 
nary that  many  of  them  ftiould  have  been  illiterate. 
The  canons  of  the  church  of  Bamberg  having  been 
,  expelled  by  the  bifhop  who  put  iiionks  in  their 
place,  and  was  excomrhuhicated  fof  that  and 
other  offences  by  the  pope  in  a.  d.  1075,  one  of 
the  canons  produced  a  I'erfe  in  one  of  the  pfalms  ; 
and  faid  that  if  he  could  explain  it,  not  in  any  rriyi- 
fical  or  allegorical'  (enfe,  but  word  for  word,  he 
would  acknowledge  him  to  be  innocent,  and 
worthy  of  the  bifhoprick;  but  it  did  not  appear 
that  he  could  do  it.  Stigand  archbifliop  of  Can- 
terbury A,  B.  3058  who  on  this  promotion  did 
fiot  quit  the  bifhoprick  of  Wincheftcr,  and  feveral 

^B  b  3  abbej.^ 


S8g  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XV  It 

abbeys  which  he  held,  was  illiterate ;  as  it  is  faid 
almoft  all  the  bifhops  of  England  at  that  time 
were.  He  thought  of  nothing  but  fatisfying  his 
ambition  and  avarice,  trafficking  in  thr^moft  public 
manner  lor  bilhopricks  and  abbeys.  He  was 
archbilhop  of  Canterbury  feventeen  years. 

Pluralities  were  very  common  in  this  period. 
The  famous  Dunftan  was  bifiiop  of  Winchefler  and 
iL  )ndon  at  the  fame  time.  As  an  excufe  for  it,  it 
was  alleged  that  St.  John  was  bifhop  of  Ephefus 
and  of  feven  other  churches. 

We  are  not,  however,  to  conclude  that  all  the 
bifhops  of  this  period  were  equally  licentious  and 
illiterate.  There  were  many  great  exceptions  of 
bifhops  equally  eminent  for  virtue  and  literature, 
efpecially  in  Germany  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II, 
who  promoted  many  excellent  men,  as  Meingaud 
and  Poppon  of  Treves,  Herebert  and  Pelegrim 
of  Cologne,  Villegife,  Archambauld  and  Aribon 
of  Mayence,  Burchard  of  Worms,  Ansfred  and 
Athalbold  of  Utrecht,  and  many  others  enumerated 
hy  Fleury. 

The  civil  and  ecclefiallical  power  in  thofe 
times  contributed  in  their  turns  to  advance  each 
other.  At  a  council  held  in  Rome  in  a.  d,  964, 
pope  Leo  VIII,  with  all  the  clergy  and  the  people 
of  Rome,  granted  to  the  emperor  Otho  and  his 
fucceffors  the  power  of  chufing  a  fuccefTor  for  the 

king- 


Sjlc.III.    the  christian  church.  S8$ 

kingdom  of  Italy,  to  confirm  the  pope,  and  to 
give  inveftitures  to  bifhops  ;  fo  that  no  patrician, 
pope,  or  bifhop,  could  be  chofen  without  his 
confent,  under  pain  of  excommunication,  perpe- 
tual exile,  or  death.  On  the  other  hand  the  tem- 
poral princes,  efpecially  thofe  of  Germany,  fet  no 
bounds  to  their  liberality  to  the  church.  Hence 
the  greiit  principalities  they  are  flill  poffefTed  of  in 
that  country.  In  a.  d.  999  Otho  III  gave  the 
city  of  Verccil  in  Italy  to  every  future  bifhop  of 
that  city  ;  which,  Fleury  fays,  is  the  firfi:  inftance 
of  civil  power  given  fo  exprefsly  to  a  church. 

The  power  of  giving  implies  that  of  withhold- 
ing, and  oft-iking  away  and  controlling ;  and  this 
both  the  civil  and  ccclefiaftical  powers  availed 
themfelves  of  as  circumftances  favoured  them.  A 
happy  ufe  was  made  of  the  ccclefiaftical  power  in 
the  cafe  of  the  emperor  Henry  II.  Having  de- 
clared his  refolution  to  be  a  monk  to  Richard  ab- 
bot of  St.  Vanes  of  Verdun,  and  taken  the  oath  of 
obedience,  the  abbot  faid,  "  I  command  you  to 
"  return,  and  take  upon  you  the  government  of 
*'  the  empire  that  God  has  put  into  your  hands, 
"  and  that  by  your  firmnefs  in  doing  juflice  you 
'*  procure,  as  far  as  fhall  be  in  your  power,  the 
*'  good  of  the  flate." 

But  the  power   of  the  clergy   was   fhamcfully 
^bufed  in  the  bufmefs  of  excommunication,    and 

-    B  b  3  (^heii" 


3^9  THE  HISTORY  OF       Peji.  XVM. 

their  making  themfelves  the  judges  of  the  laws  of 
marriage.  Of  this  we  have  two  remarkable  in- 
ilances  in  the  hiftory  of  the  kings  of  France  within 
this  period,  Robert  and  Philip.  The  former  of 
thofe  princes  refufing  to  divorce  his  wife,  whom 
he  had  been  ordered  to  difmifs  by  pope  Gregory, 
in  a  council  held  at  Rome  in  a.  d.  998,  was  ex- 
communicated by  hirn  •  and  the  confequence  was 
;  that  no  perfon  would  have  any  intercourfe  with 
Jiim,  except  two  domeftics,  who  however,  threw 
into  the  fire  ail  the  veflels  in  which  he  ate  or 
drank.  This,  at  leaft,  is  related  by  P.  Damien, 
who  wrote  fixty  years  after.  In  a.  d.  looi  the 
king  found  itneceffary  to  difmifs  his  queen. 

In  the  cafe  of  Robert  the  excommunicatioa 
was  laid  on  by  the  pope,  but  in  that  of  Philip  the 
l)ilhops  of  the  country  took  upon  themfelves  to 
control  the  king.  This  prince  having  put  away 
his  wife  Bertha,  and  married  Bertrade,  who  had 
been  married  four  years  to  the  count  of  Anjou,  Ivo 
tifhop  of  Chartres  remonflrated  with  him  on  the 
fubjeft,  but  the  king  perfifled,  and  concluded 
the  marriage  ;  and  to  exprefs  his  rcfentment  againft 
the  bifhop  he  made  war  upon  him,  plundering 
his  lands,  and  feizing  his  perfon.  On  this  pope 
Urban  wrote  to  the  archbifhop  of  Rheims  and  his 
fyfFfagans,  reproving  them  for  fufFering  fuch  a 
pime,  in|i{ling  on  their  going  to  the  king  and  re- 

;p,0R«. 


Sec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH/         SSi 

monftrating  with  him,  and  their  threatening  him 
with  the  fpiritual  fword  if  he  did  not  repent.  The 
king  Hill  perfilling,  at  a  council  held  at  Autun  in 
A.  D.  1094,  the  clergy  excommunicated  him, 
the',  his  former  wife  Bertha  being  then  dead,  he  had 
hoped  that  the  fecond  marriage  would  have  been 
allowed. 

Philip,    being  thus  excommunicated  by    tlif 
council,    fent  deputies  to   the  pope,    affuring  him 
that  he  had  no  criminal  commerce  with  Bertrade, 
and  threatening  that,    if  he  did  not  take  off  the  ex- 
communication, and  reftore  to  him  his  crown,  he 
would  withdraw  from  his  obedience,    and  go  over 
to  Guibert  the  antipope.     On  this  the  pope,  tho' 
apprized    that   what  the  king  faid  was   not   true, 
thought  proper  to  give  him  a  refpite  till  AH  Saints 
in  A.  D.  1095,     taking  ofF  the  excommunication, 
and  permitting  him  to  wear  ghis  crown  as  befor^. 
For  it  was  then   the  cuftom   on  great   feflivals  for 
the  king  to  appear  in  his    royal  apparel,     and  to 
,  have  the  crown  put  on  his  head  by  a  bifhop.      The 
king  not  being  reclaimed  by  this  indulgence,    v/as 
excommunicated  at  the  council  of  Clermont  in  a. 
D.  1095,    ^^^  without  any  prejudice  to  his  royal 
dicrnitv.     This  brought  the  kin2  to  fubmit  to  the 
church ;    and  having  made  fatisfa6lion,    and  pro- 
snifipd  to  difmifs  his  wife,    he  was  abfolved  from 

B  b  ^  his 


3{5^  [THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XVtr. 

his  excommunication  at  the  council  of  Nifmes  in 
the  year  following. 

OJo  archbiftiop  of  Canterbury  proceeded  in  a 
more  violent  manner  with  king  Edwy.  He  not 
only  took  from  him  his  favourite  concubine,  but 
abufed  her  in  a  (hocking  manner,  and  fent  her  to 
Ireland.  On  her  refurn  he  caught  her  again,  and 
•even  put  her  to  death  in  a  miferable  manner. 

The  clergy  derived  great  advantage  from  their 
arbitrary  conftruftions  of  the  degrees  of  affinity 
witt#i  which  it  was  lawful  to  contra6l  marriage. 
In  A.  D.  1065  pope  Alexander  II  held  a  council 
^t  Rome  to  fettle  this  bufmefs,  in  confequence  ot 
a  difpute  on  the  fubje6l  in  which  P.  Damiani  had 
taken  a  confiderable  part ;  and  it  was  fettled,  that 
the  canon  law  for  regulating  marriage  was  effen- 
tially  different  from  the  civil  law,  which  regulated 
the  fucceflion  to  eftates.  For  whereas  two  brothers 
according  to  the  civil  law  are  in  the  firfl  degree  of 
relationfhip,  according  to  the  canon  law  they  are 
in  the  fecond  ;  and  coufms  german,  who  are  in  the 
fecond  according  to  the  civil  law,  are  in  the  fourth 
according  to  the  canon  law ;  the  one  beginning 
with  the  common  anceftor,  and  the  other  afcend- 
ing  to  him,  and  then  defcending  again. 

The  degrees  of  relationfhip,  as  was  obferved  be- 
fore, were  extended  beyond  the  bounds  of  nature 
by  godfathers  and  godmothers   at  baptifm  being 

'  C9^- 


3EC.III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  333 

ponfidered  as  real  relations,  and  by  this  means 
the  limits  of  contrafting  marriage  were  much 
abridged  ;  and  thi^i  was  no  lefs  fo  in  the  Eaft  tharj 
in  the  Weft.  The  emperor  Nicephorus  Phocas 
being  faid  to  have  been  godfather  to  a  child  of 
Theophania,  whom  he  had  married  to  his  fecond 
wife,  the  marriage  was  thought  to  be  unlawful  on 
account  of  this  fpirituai  rektionlhip,  and  the  pa- 
triarch Polyeudes  would  not  receive  him  into 
communion. 

The  great  conteft  between  the  civil  and  ecclc-^ 
fiadical  powers  which  arofe  in  this  period,  was  a- 
bout  the  right  o[  invfJIiCure,  or  the  difpofal  ofbilh- 
pricks,  and  other  church  preferments.  When  the 
clergy  became  poffeiTed  of  eftates  in  land,  given 
them  by  princes  and  great  lords,  it  was  natural  that 
"  they  fhould  fwear  fealty  to  them,  and  even  per- 
form the  fame  duties  that  wereexafted  of  other  hold- 
ers of  land,  fuch  as  ferving  in  the  wars,  or  furnifli- 
ing  a  number  of  men  for  the  purpofe.  By  de- 
grees thefe  fervices  were  remitted  to  churchmen  as 
unfuitable  to  their  charafler;  but,  lliil,  as  the 
.  lands  were  a  gift,  and  the  heirs  ot  the  grantor  had 
an  intereft  in  the  poflelfion  of  the  land,  the  new 
occupant,  as  in  civil  cafes,  was  not  admitted  with- 
out his  confent.  This  was  evidently  the  cafe  with 
■yefpefl  to  the  pope  himfelf.  But  at  this  time  botlt 
the  popes  and  other  bifhops  of  great   power,   feeU 

B  b  5  ing 


^U  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XV  Jl, 

^ng   their    importance,    began  to   be  impatient  of 
;their  dependence  on  the  temporal  princes  ;  and  a^ 
church  preferments  had  been  generally  given  for 
jnoney,  by    needy   princes  and  lords,  which  was 
called  limony,   and   univerfally   condemned,  tho' 
almoft  univerfally  pra£lifed,  it  was  now  thought  to 
|3e  wrong  to    fufFer  their  interference  in  this  bufi- 
nefs  in  any  refpeft  ;  on  the  principle  that  laymen, 
having  no  fpiritual  charafter,    could  not  convey 
fpiritual  things  ;  as  if  the  appointment  of  a  bifhop 
had  been  the  fame  thing  with  the  giving  of  holy  or- 
ders. The  univerfal  cuflom,  tho'  now  objedied  to, 
was  againft  this  maxim.     In  Germany  in  particu- 
lar, where  the  difpute  arofe,  when  any  bifhop  died, 
the  prince  had   been  regularly  informed  of  it,  and 
the  clergy  and  people  always  waited  for  his  con- 
fent  before  they  proceeded  to  the  eleftion  of  ano- 
ther ;  and  he  confirmed  their  eleftion  by    the  de- 
livery of  a  ring  and  pafloral  ftaff,  as  badges  of  their 
piEce,  and  then  the  new  bifhop  took  the  oath  of 
alle'Tiance  to  the  prince  before  h@  took  poffefiion  of 
the  bifhopric. 

As  a  cuftom  univerfally  eftablifhed  could  not 
eafily  be  broken,  artful  methods  were  at  firft  ufed 
to  evade  it.  After  the  death  of  Alexander  II,  who 
while  he  was  pope  retained  the  bilhoprick  of  Luc- 
ca, Anfelm,  whom  Alexander  himfelf  had  recom- 
mended, was  chofen  in  his  place,    and   had  been 

fcnt 


Spc,  IIL    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  395 

fent  before  hand  to  king  Henry  IV  to  obtain  the 
inveftiturc,  which  fhews  that  then  he  did  not  con- 
j3emn  the  pra<5lice.  But  Anfelm,  who  thought  tha^ 
.jhe  fecular  power  ought  not  to  give  ecclefiaftical 
dignities,  managed  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  return, 
^nd  take  poffLflion  of  the  bilhoprick,  without  the 
ceremony  of  receiving  inveftitnre,  and  in  a.  ^n. 
1073  he  went  to  Rome  to  be  ordained.  The  king, 
howf  ver,  fent  to  the  pope  to  require  that  he  would 
not  ordain  either  him,  or  Hugh  bifhop  of  Die,  be- 
caufe  they  had  not  received  inveftiture.  With 
refpt6h  io  Anfelm,  the  pope  comphed,  but  not 
with  refpe6i;  to  Hugh,  who  had  been  chofen  fud- 
denly  by  the  clergy  and  people  in  the  place  of 
one  who  was  a  fimoniac,  himfelf  being  then  a 
layman,  the  pope's  legate  being  then  at  the  place, 
and  approving  of  the  choice.  As  he  was  then  on 
a  pilgrimage  to  Rome,  he  received  his  holy  orders 
there. 

Anfelm  was  afterwards  feized  with  a  fcruple, 
and  went  to  Clugni,  in  order  to  become  a  member 
of  that  community;  but  being  commanded  by  the 
pope,  he  left  the  monaftery,  and  havinggiven  the 
ring  and  the  pafloral  ftaEF  which  he  received  from 
the  king  into  the  hands  of  the  pope,  the  latter  ref- 
tored  to  him  his  funclions,  allowing  him  to  retain 
jhe  monaftic  habit. 

After 


^96  THE  KISTOIIY  OF        Per.  XVI|. 

After  this,  in  the' progress    of  the  differences 
between  Gregory  and  Henry,  ihe  clergy  took  more 
courage,  and  openly  aflerted  th  uir  independence  on 
the  civil  power.       At  a  council  at  Poi6liers  in  a. 
D.  1078,  the  biihops  and  oth<:r  ecclefiaflical  per- 
fons,     were  forbidd-^  to  recei  ve   inveftiture  from 
kinos,  or  other  laymen.       Vi^ilor  III,  in  a  coun- 
cil at  Beneventum,  decreed  thut,  if  any  perfon  re- 
ceived a  biihoprick,  or  abbey,    from  any  layman, 
he  fhould  be    confidered  as   no  bifhop  or  abbot. 
But  Urbaq  II,  at  the  coun<:ii  in  Rome  in  a.  d. 
long,   proceeded  farther  thari  this ;  for  then  an  ex- 
communication was  pronouinced  again  ft  all  lay- 
men who  fhould   grant  inveflitures   of   churches, 
and  alfo  againft  all  the  clergy  who  Ihould  receive 
them  at  their  hands,     or  confecrate   thofe  who  re- 
ceived them,   and  againft  all  thofe  who  fhould  do 
homage  to  laymen  for    any  ecclefiaftical  dignity. 
"  For,"  faid  the  pope,    "one  cannot  fee'  without 
''  horror  hands   raifed  to  the  fupreme   honour  of 
*'  creating  the  creator,    and   offering  him   to    his 
*'  father  for  the  falvation  of  the  world,  reduced  to 
*•■  this  infamy  of  fubmitting  to  hands   continually 
*'  ftained  with  the  touch  of  infamous  things,  rapine, 
*'  and  the  effulion  of  blood."       All  the  affembly 
cried,  Be  it  Jo. 

Notwithftanding  the  great  power  of  the  clergy 
in  this  period,  there  were  ftUl  loud  and  juft  com- 
plaints 


Sec,  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  4# 

plaints  of  the  feizing  of  tlieir  temporalities  hyhiw- 
lefs  violence.  This  appears  by  the  council  of 
Leon  in  Spain  in  A.  d.  i(j)i2,  to  have  been  as  much 
the  cafe  in  that  country  as  in  Germany,  France, 
and  Italy^  of  which  Dittnar  makes  fo  much  com- 
plaint. Abbon,  the  abbot  of  Fleury,  complainecj 
that,  even  the  advocates  of  the  church,  or  thofe 
who  held  fiefs  of  it,  in  order  to  defend  it,  were 
themfelves  the  greateft  plunderers  of  it.  "  Whence," 
he  fays,  "  we  fee  fo  matiy  churches  dedroyed,  and 
"  fo  many  monafterics  in  ruins ;  becaufe  men  pre-* 
*"  fent  themfelves  as  the  protedors  of  them,  and  oa 
"  that  pretence  feize  the  greateft  part  of  the  reve- 
nues." At  theacceffion  of  pope  Gregory  VI  the 
temporalities  of  the  fee  '«rerc  fo  much  diminilhed, 
that,  excepting  a  few  cities  near  Rome,  and  the 
oblations  of  the  faithful,  liule  remained  for  his 
fubfiflence  ;  all  the  diflaiit  patrimony  being  oc- 
cupied by  ufurpers.  Rome  itfelf  was  full  of  af- 
faflins  and  plunderers.  They  fought  even  at  the 
altars,  and  on  the  tombs  ot  the  apoflles,  to  carry 
off  the  oblations,  and  ufe  them^  in  feafls  with  their 
proflitutes.  At  Rome  there  was  a  lingular  kind 
ofabufe,  to  which  Gregory  VII  put  a  flop.  There 
were  fixty  perfons  called  ManfLO'^aries,  habited 
like  priefts,  at  the  church  of  St.  Peter,  who  made 
the  pilgrims  believe  that  they  were  priefts,  re- 
ceived their  offerings,  and  gave  thent  abfolution  ; 

and 


tHE  HigfORY  OF       Per.  XVIi; 

and  afc  night,  on  the  pretence  of  guarding  the 
fehurch,  they  went  out,  and  committed  all  kind^ 
of  crimes. 

We  find  a  complaint  firililar  to  this  in  the  eaft. 
It  had  been  the  cuftom  in  the  beginning  of  the 
eleventh  century  to  give  a  decayed  monattery  to  a 
rich  and  powerful  peifon,  for  the  purpofe  of  reflo- 
ring  it,  ■  that  they  might  be  its  benefaftors  and 
proteftors.  But  this  was  grown  into  fuch  abufe, 
that  they  were  confidered  as  their  abfolute  proper- 
ty, fo  that  they  received  a(nd  enjoyed  the  revenues 
of  them.  By  this  means  women  fometimes  became 
pofTelled  of  the  monafteries  of  men,  and  menthofe' 
of  women  ;  and  as  many  fecular  perfons  were' 
received  into  the  monafteries  as  monks,  fo' 
that  the  difcipline  was  wholy  relaxed.  This 
abufe  was  reffified  by  the  conflitiition  of  Alexis' 
in  A.  D.  1027. 

One  principal  caiife  of  the  great  difordcrs  and 
violences  of  thefe  times,  by  which  the  clergy,  as  the 
inofl  defencelefs  part  of  the  community,  fufFered 
the  moft,  was  ths  independence  of  the  feudal  lords, 
dhdthe  wcaknefs  of  the  kings.  For  near  two  hundred 
years  from  the  reign  of  Louis  le  Debonnaire  thtf 
fovereign  authority  was  little  refpeCled  in  France, 
Germany  or  Italy.  Every  lord  thought  he  had  a 
right  to  do  himfelf  juftice  by  force  of  arms  ;  and 
fescaufes  of  complaint  were   infinitely  multiplied^ 

ther^ 


^W.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  49# 

there  was  nothing  but  violence,  and  it  was  not  coftw 
fidered  as  any  crime.  They  who  were  the  mofl 
dxpofed  were  the  merchants,  artizans  and  iaboui'-i 
trs,  and  the  reft  of  the  common  people,  but  efpe^^ 
cially  the  monks  and  the  clergy,  who  were  forbid- 
den the  life  of  arms. 

Great  evils,  however,  require,  and  always  find,' 
fome  remedy ;  becaufe  it  comes  to  be  the  general  in- 
tereft  that  fome  (hould  be  applied,  and  in  this  cafe" 
we  find  recourfe  had  to  various  expedients.  At  a 
a  council  ot  Poi6liers  in  a.  d.  1004,  the  lords 
promifed,  and  gave  hoflages  to  obferve  one  of  its' 
orders,  which  was  that  whoever  injured  a  church, 
plundered  the  poor,  or  ftruck  a  difarmed  clergy-^ 
man,  Ihould  be  anathematized;  and  that  for  all 
nfurpatiotis  that  had  been  made  iti  the  preceding 
five  years,  or  fhould  be  made  for  the  future,  they 
fhould  demand  juflice  of  the  prince,  or  particular 
lord,  who  fhould  caufe  juftice  to  be  done ;  thaS 
if  he  was  unable  to  procure  juftice,  he  fhould  af^ 
femble  the  lords  and  bifhops  who  affifted  at  that 
council,  and  they  fhould  march  againft  him  a^ 
againft  a  rebel,  and  lay  wafte  his  eftates,  '  till  he 
fubmitted  to  reafon. 

At  the  council  of  Limoges  in  a.  d.  1031,  Odal- 
ric  abbot  of  St.  Martial,  in  order  to  procure  peace 
among  the  lords,  who  were  continually  at  war 
with  one  another,  propofed  to  lay  the  whole  coun- 
try 


400^ 


THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVit 


try  under  an  interdift   till    the  lords   fliould  con- 
fent  to  it.      To  alarm  them  the  more,    the  bifhop 
of  Caftres  faid  that  a  certain  knight  who  had  been 
excommunicated,  and  refufed  to  be  abfolved,  had 
hcen  buried  by  his  relations   without  any   funeral 
rites  in  the  church,  but  that  the  next  morning  the 
^ody  was  found  thrown  out  of  the  grave  ;  that  the 
lame  thing  took  place   repeatedly,    after   five  at- 
tempts to  bury  him,  and  that  at  length  they  buried 
him  out  of  the  church  yard.     This  ftory  anfwered 
the  purpofe  in  that  fuperftitious  age.      The  lords 
were  terrified,  and  fwore  peace  among  themfelve*? 
In  the  time  of  king  Robert  they  began  to  apply 
more  efFedlual  remedies  to  this  great  evil.       At  a 
Council  held  at  Elne  in  RoufTiUon  in  a.  d.  1027, 
it  was   ordered   that  no  perfon  fhould  attack  his 
enemv  from  three  o'clock  in  (he  afternoon  on  fa- 
turday  till  day  break  on  monday  ;     that  no  perfon 
ihould  attack ,  a  monk    or    clergyman    travelling 
without  arms,  or  any  perfon  going  to  church  on 
returning  from  it,  or  travelling  in  company   with 
tvomen  ;  and  that  no  perfon  fhould  attack  a  church, 
or  a  houfe  within  thirty  paces  of  it,  under  pain  of 
excommunication. 

After  a  dreadful  famine  of  three  years  conti- 
nuance, about  A.  D.  1030,  feveral  councils  were 
held  in  which  thefe  abufes  were  reformed.       The 

principal  obje6:  was  to  procure  peace,    fo  that  all 

perfons 


Eec.  III.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         48i 

|)errons  might  travel  without  arms,  whatever  dif* 
ferences  they  might  have  ;  that  churches  ftiould 
be  fan6luaries  foi- ail  crimes,  but  that  cf  breaking 
ithis  peace.    , 

At  length,  in  a.  d.  1041,  the  lords  not  being 
able  to  make  a  fettled  peace,  agreed  to  a  truce 
called  the  iruce  0/  God,  which  was  that  from  wed- 
nefday  evening  to  monday  morning  no  perfon 
fhould  take  any  thing  by  force.  Jt  came  to  be 
called  the  truce  of  God,  becaufe  it  was  thought 
that  fsveral  perfons  who  had  violated  it  were 
puniflied  in  a  miraculous  manner. 

This  truce  of  God  was  confirmed  and  extend- 

0  -■','-'  fit 

ed  to  other  fcafons  at  the  council  of  Narbonne  iri 
A.  D.  1054,  under  the  penalty  of  anathema  and 
JDerpetual  banifhment.  At  the  fame  time  it  was 
forbidden  to  cut  down  olive  trees,  becaufe  they 
farnifhed  matter  for  the  chrifm,  and  the  lighting 
of  churches.  Alfo  fhepherds  and  their  flocks 
were  not  to  be  molefted,  churches  and  their  reve- 
nues were  to  be  held  facred,  all  clergymeri 
and  monks  without  arms,  .  and  merchants  and 
pilgrims.  The  truce  of  God  was  decreed  in  Nor- 
mandy under  Wilham  the  conqueror  in  a.  d. 
1080,  and  farther  confirmed  at  a  council  in  Rouen 
in  A.  D.  1096,  when  all  perfons  above  the  age  of 
twelve  years  were  obliged  to  fwear  to  it, 

Vol.  III.  Cc  thuJ^ 


4f3%  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVIIv 

ThuSj  by  the  efforts  of  the  bifhops,  thepubhe 
tranquiHty  was  in  fome  meafure  reftored.  Before 
this  bifhops,  and  even  popes,  were  obhgedto  have 
recourfe  to  arms.  Gregory  VI,  finding  excom- 
munications ufelefs,  applied  this  remedy,  and  by 
this  means  made  travelling  in  fome  meafure  fafe. 
But  the  Romans  having  been  long  aecuftomed  to 
plundtr,  faid  the  pope  was  a  blood  thirfty  man, 
unworthy  of  offering  lacrifices  to  God.  The  car- 
dinals themfelves  ufed  the  lame  language. 

When  thofe  times  of  violence  began  to  abate, 
there  was  a  great  emulation  in  France  in  rebuild- 
ing churches,  and  monafteries.  At  this  time  the 
cathedral  of  St.  Martin  at  Touis  was  built  in  a 
magnificent  manner  by  Herve  the  treafurer. 


SECTION  IV. 

Of  the  Monks  in  this  Pcriud, 


T 


WO  very  confiderable  new  orders' 
of  monks  had  their  rife  in  this  period ;  the  Carthu- 
fians,  and  the  Ciftercians,  tho'  both  of  them  oh 
the  general  principles  of  the  BenediQines. 

Bruno,  the  founder  of  the  former  of  thefe  of- 
ders,  was  a  canon  of  the  church  of  Rheims,  and  a 
difference  which  he  had  vrith  Mansifles  the  arch- 

bilhopi' 


^EC.IV,  THE  CHRISTIAN -CHURCH.  m-^ 

hiihop,  vvhofe  irregularities  gave  him  great  oiFence, 
was  the  caufc  of  his  retreat.  Difcourfmg  with 
Roul  le  Vert,  the  provofl;  of  that  cliurch,  and" 
dnotber  pei'lon  of  the  name  of  Fulcius,  ot  the  va- 
nity of  the  riches  and  pleafures  of  this  vvoild,  and- 
of  the  joys  of  eternity,  they  all  made  a  vow  to  quit' 
the  world  as  foon  as  poflibi .;,  and  take  the  monaf-^ 
tic  habit;  but  the  execution  being  deferred  till  the 
return  of  Fulcius  from  a  journey  which  he  made' 
to  Rome,  where  he  flayed  a  long  time,  the  zeal 
of  Roul  grew  cool,  and  he  continued  at  Rheims 
6t  which  he  was  afterwards  archbifhoo,  but  Bruno' 
kept  firm  to  his  purpofe. 

Without  waiting  for  the  return  of  Fulcius,  he 
^ent  to  confult  Hugh  bifliop  of  Gienoble,  who' 
had  quitted  his  bifhuprick,  and  retired  to  the  mo- 
nailery  of  Chaife  Dieu,  where  he  paifed  a  year; 
but  by  order  of  the  pope  had  refumed  the  duties 
of  his  oflSce.  It  was  three  years  after  this  that' 
Bruno  with  fix  companions  vifited  him.  He  re-, 
ceived  them  with  great  kindncls,  approved  of 
their  refolution,  and  advifed  theni  to  fix  themfelves 
at  Carthujium,  a  falitary  place,  furrounded  witK 
frightful  mountaiiis  of  diiliciilt  accefs  near  Gre-" 
lioble. 

In  this  pl*ce  they  made  aneflabJifhmeht  in  a,; 
i).  1084,  and  by  their  charter  the  biffiop  forbad 
Jiny  women  to  pafs  thro*  the  lands  belonging  to  the 

C  c  2  Brothers/ 


*K)3 


THE  HISTORY  OF  Pr.Ti.  XV XL 


ftould  hurt  their  abRinence.  Their  lay  brothers 
were  not  obliged  to  fuch  rigorous  abflinence,  or  fi- 
knee.  The  number  of  monks  was  fixed  at  thir- 
teen,  and  that  of  the  lay  brothers  at  fixteen. 

After  Bruno  had  governed  at  Carthufium  fix 
years,  he  was  Cent  for  to  Rome  by  pope  Urban, 
who  had  been  his  difciple  at  Rheims,  to  affifl  him 
with  his  advice,  leaving  his  charge  of  the  monaftery 
to  Sequin  the  abbot  of  Chaife  Dieu,  to  whom 
the  place  originally  belonged.  His  monks  fol- 
lowed him  to  Italy,  but  he  perfuaded  them  to  re- 
turn, and  gave  them  Landuin  for  a  prior,  and  he 
governed  them  ten  years.  Bruno  himfelf,  unable 
to  bear  the  tumult  of  Rome,  retired  with  Landuin, 
and  forne  others,  to  the  diocefe  of  Squillace  in  Ca- 
labria, where  count  Roger  gave  them  a  foreft  of  ^ 
leacTue  in  extent.  There  he  lived  eleven  years, 
and  there  he  died. 

The  founder  of  the  Ciilerclans  was  Robert, 
abbot  of  Molefme.  He  and  feveral  of  his  monks, 
Teflefting  that  the  rules  of  Benedi6l,  to  which  they 
bad  fworn,  were  by  no  means  conformed  to  in 
that  monaftery,  and  not  being  able  to  prevail 
upon  the  reft;  to  fubmit  to  them,  with  the  leave  of 
pope  Urban,  they  left  the  place,  and  fixed  them- 
lelves  at  Cijiercmm,  (in  French  Citeaux)  five  miles 
irom  Dijon  in  the  diocefe  of  Chalons.  It  was  then 
a   defert  place,     covered   with   wood  and    briars, 

which 


Sec.  IV.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         f^ 

which  they  began  to  clear,  and  where  they  lodged 
themfelves  in  wooden  cells,  with  the  confent  of 
Gautier  the  biihop  of  the 'diocefe,  and  Renaud 
Vicount  of  Beaune,  to  whom  the  land  belonged^ 
Here  they  eftabiilhed  themfelves  the  firfl;  of  March 

A.    D.  1098. 

The  archbilhop  of  Lyons,  feeing  their  extreme 
poverty,  wrote  to  Eudes  duke  of  Burgundy  to  re- 
commend them  to  him  ;  and  he  at  his  own  expence 
finifhed  the  wooden  buildings  they  had  bggun, 
and  for  a  long  time  fupplied  them  with  all  necef- 
farlcs  ;  and  the  bifhop  of  Chalons  gave  Robert  the 
paftoral  ftafiPin  quality  of  abbot.  By  application 
to  the  pope  Robert  was  afterwards  induced  to  re- 
turn to  the  monaftery  of  Molefme ;  but  they  who 
remained  at  Citeaux  chofe  another  abbot,  Albe^^ 
ric,  who  had  been  prior  of  Molefme,  and  was 
then  prior  of  Citeaux. 

There  were  three  other  great  reformers  of  mo- 
nadic difcipline  in  France  within  this  period,  Ri- 
chard abbot  of  Verdun,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
eleventh  century,  Odilon  abbot  of  Ciugny,  and 
William  of  Dijon. 

Confidering  the  varieties  there  are  in  men's  dif- 
politions  and  fituations,  we  cannot  wonder  at  the 
variety  of  forms  in  which  men  devoted  themfelves 
to  what  they  eonfideied  as  religion,    in  oppofitiou 

C  C   4  IQ 


,^3  THE  HISTORY  OF  Per.  XV 11, 

fhoiild  hurt  their  abQinence.  Their  lay  brothers 
were  not  obliged  tn  fuch  rigorous  abRinence,  or  fi- 
lence.  The  number  of  monks  was  fixed  at  thir- 
teen,  and  that  of  the  lay  brothers  at  fixteen. 

After  Bruno  had  governed  at  Canhufium  fix 
years,  he  was  Cent  for  to  Rome  by  pope  Urban-, 
who  had  been  his  difciple  at  Rheims,  to  affifl  him 
with  his  advice,  leaving  his  charge  of  the  monaftery 
to  Seguin  the  abbot  of  Chaife  Dieu,  to  whom 
the  place  originally  belonged.  His  monks  fol- 
lowed him  to  Italy,  but  he  perfuaded  them  to  re- 
turn, and  gave  them  Landuin  for  a  prior,  and  he 
governed  them  ten  years.  Bruno  himfelf,  unable 
to  bear  the  tumult  of  Rome,  retired  with  Landuin, 
and  forne  others,  to  the  diocefe  of  Squillace  in  Ca- 
labria, where  count  Roger  gave  them  a  forefl  of  ^ 
league  in  exten?:.  There  he  lived  eleven  years, 
and  there  he  died. 

The  founder  of  the  CiQercians  was  Robert, 
abbot  of  Molefme.  He  and  feveral  of  his  monks, 
reflefting  that  the  rules  of  Benedict,  to  which  they 
had  fworn,  were  by  no  means  conformed  to  in 
that  monaftery,  and  not  being  able  to  prevail 
upon  the  reft  to  fubmit  to  them,  with  the  leave  of 
pope  Urban,  they  left  the  place,  and  fixed  them- 
felves  at  Cijicraum,  (in  French  Citeaux)  five  miles 
from  Dijon  in  the  diocefe  of  Chalons.  It  was  then 
a  defert  place,     covered   with   wood  and    briars, 

which 


S£e.  IV.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  ^-^^ 

which  they  began  to  clear,  and  where  they  lodged 
themfelves  in  wooden  cells,  with  the  confent  of 
Gautier  the  bifhop  of  the  cliocefe,  and  Renaud 
Vicount  of  Beaune,  to  whom  the  land  belonged^ 
Here  they  eftabliftied  themfelves  the  firft  of  March 

A.    D. 1098. 

The  archbifhop  of  Lyons,  feeing  their  extreme 
poverty,  wrote  to  Eudes  duke  of  Burgundy  to  re- 
commend them  to  him  ;  and  he  at  his  own  expence 
finifhed  the  wooden  buildings  they  had  bggun, 
and  for  a  long  time  fupplied  them  with  all  necef- 
farjes ;  and  the  bifhop  of  Chalons  gave  Robert  the 
paftoral  flaffin  quality  of  abbot.  By  application 
to  the  pope  Robert  was  afterwards  induced  to  re- 
turn to  the  monaftery  of  Molefme ;  but  they  who 
remained  at  Citeaux  chofe  another  abbot,  Albe^- 
ric,  who  had  been  prior  of  Molefme,  and  was 
then  prior  of  Citeaux. 

There  were  three  other  great  reformers  of  mo- 
nadic difcipline  in  France  within  this  period,  Ri- 
chard abbot  of  Verdun,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
eleventh  century,  Odilon  abbot  oi  Ciugny,  and 
William  of  Dijon. 

Confidering  the  varieties  there  are  in  men's  dif- 
pohtions  and  lituations,  we  cannot  wonder  at  the 
variety  of  forms  in  which  men  devoted  themfelves 
to  what  they  €onfidered  as  religion,    in  oppofitiou 

P  c  4  tQ 


^^  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XV If 

to  the  licentious  manners  of  thofe  times.      I   ihAl 
jnention  two  which  tooii  p'ace  in  this  period. 

In  A.  D.  1091  many  laymen  in  Germany  re- 
Tiounced  the  world,  giving  themfelves  and  their 
propt  rty  to  the  fcrvice  of  particular  communities, 
Tegular  clergy,  or  monks,  to  live  under  their  con- 
du6l.  This  being  blamed  by  many,  pope  Urban 
wrote  in  approbation  of  it,  as  an  image  of  the  pri- 
Snitive  church.  There  were  alfo  many  young  wo-^ 
men  who,  renouncing  marriage,  put  themfelves 
pnderthe  conduft  of  fome  prieft,  or  of  a  married 
woman,  living  in  obedience,  and  great  piety. 
Whole  villages  adopted  this  mode  of  devotion  and 
endeavoured  to  furpafs  one  another  in  fanftity. 

In  the  eleventh  century  we  find  the  inttitutioH 
of  lay  brothers.  Thefe  were  illiterate  perfons,  who 
therefore  could  not  be  clergy,  and  devoted  them- 
felves wholly  to  labour.  The  fi;{l  monaftery  that 
had  thefe  lay  brothers  was  that  of  Valambrofe. 
After  this  was  that  of  Herfuage,  and  the  abbot 
William  is  faid  to  be  the  firfl  inllitutor  of  this  clafs 
of  religious.  The  Carthufiaps  alfo  had  them,  and 
called  them  bearded  brothers.  They  made  folemn 
vows,  and  were  real  monks.  For  fome  time  be- 
fore this  reading  had  been  almoft  confined  to  the 
clergy,  and  almoft  all  the  monks  were  become  foj 
ivhereas  originally  they  were  all  laymeri, 

Ther^ 


|ec.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH^         40^ 

There  were  alfo  in  all  monafleries  a  feconJ 
cl^k  oi  persons  C2i'hid  donati,  ox  oblati,  who,  with- 
out making  the  pr(5fefTion,  or  wearing  a  habit  dif- 
ferent irom  that  of  odicr  perfons,  gave  themfelves 
and  their  property  to  the  monafleries,  obeying  the 
fuperior,  arid  living  in  celibacy,  in  ^vhich  refpedfe 
they  differed  homferfs,  who  were  married.  For 
there  were  aUoferfs  of  devntion,  or  Ireemi^n  who 
devoted  themselves  to  the  fervice  of  particular  mo- 
pafleries  ;  and.  as  a  mark  of  it,  put  the  cord  of  the 
church  bell  about  their  necks,  laid  their  head  upon 
the  altar,  or  put  pieces  of  money  on  their  heads. 

In  this  period  top  the  ord^r  canons  regular  was 
made  more  perfe6l  all  private  property  being  ex- 
cluded ;  fo  that  they  were  nearly  in  the  fame  fitua- 
tion  with  monks.  This  regulation  was  made  at  a, 
council  held  in  Rome  in  a.  d.  1063,  under  Ale- 
xander II. 

Every  thing  that  was  thought  to  look  like  reli- 
gion being  in  this  age  confined  to  monafleries,  thera 
was  a  great  refort  to  them  on  a  variety  of  occafions. 
Pope  Alexander  II  having  promifed  an  indulgence 
for  fins  that  were  confeffed,  to  thofe  who  fhould  af- 
fifl  at  the  dedication  of  the  monaftery  of  Mount 
Caflin,  when  it  was  repaired  in  a.  d.  1071,  it 
drew  together  a  prodigious  number  of  perfons. 
Not  only  the  monaftery  itfelf,  and  the  town,  but: 
the  neighbouring  fields  were  filled.       Such,  how- 


,430  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVII; 

ever,  ^rere  the  revenues  of  the  place,  and  the  libe- 
rality of  the  abbot,  that  they  were  all  fupplied  by 
him  with  bread  and  wine  and  fifh,  three  days  be- 
fore the  dedication,  and  as  many  after  it.  This 
folemn  dedication  fo  much  increafed  the  reputation 
of  the  monaflery,  and  of  the  abbot  Defiderius, 
that  all  princes  fent  prefents  to  it,  and  in  two  years 
the  monks  increafed  to  the  number  :  of  nearly  two 
hundred. 

Monafleries  were  far,  however,  from  being 
free  from  abufe  in  this  age.  U!ric,  in  his  account 
of  thecufloms  of  Clugny,)  written  in  a.  d.  1091, 
fays,  that  one  chief  caufe  of  it  was  parents  who  had 
manv  children  relieving  thcmfclves  of  thofe  who 
were  lame,  maimed,  or  who  had  any  other  bodily 
defeat,  by  putting  them  into  monafleries.  Houfes 
filled  with  thofe  invalids,  he  fays,  could  not  ob- 
ferve  any  regularity ;  and  that  the  obfervance  of 
the  rules  was  exa8:  only  in  thofe  monafleries  in 
which  the  greater  number  of  monks  confifled  of 
perfons  who  entered  them  at  mature  age,  and  of 
their  own  free  choice. 

In  this  period,  as  well  as  in  the  former,  we 
find  examples  of  perfons  in  the  higher  ranks 
devoting  themfelves  to  the  monaflic  life.  Cu- 
negund,  the  wife  of  the  emperor  Henry  II, 
took  the  vows  in  a  peculiarly  folemn  manner  after 
the  death  of  her  hufband,    in  a  monaflery  near 

Heflfe^ 


Sec.  IV.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  411 

HelTe-CaflTel,  living  under  the  orders  of  her  fiipe- 
rior,  apd .  emploj'ing  herfelf  in  curious  needle 
works,  &c.  After  her  death  fhe  was  canonized. 
Being  accufed  of  incontihence  in  the  life  time  of 
her  huiband,  it  is  Giid  that  fhe  cleared  herfelf  b^ 
walking  unhurt  over  a  number  of  red  hot  plow- 
fliares.  Hugo  duke  of  Burgundy  became  a  monk 
of  Clugny  in  a.  d.  1078.  And  William  duke  of 
Aquitain  died  in  the  monadic  habit  in  a.  d.  1030; 
as  did  the  emperor  Michael  the  Paphlagonian  in 
A.  D.  1041.  The  emperor  Ifaac  Commenus  be- 
carhe  a  monk  in  a.  d.  1059,  refigning  the  empira 
to  Conflantine  Ducas. 

Tho' the  monks  were  higher  in  eHimation  than 
the  fecular  clergy  in  all  this  period,  they  did  not 
gain  many  cflfential  privileges.  However,  at  the 
council  of  Nifmes  in  a.  d.  1096,  pope  Urban  af- 
ferted  the  right  of  the  monks  to  the  exercife  of  fa- 
cerdotal  fu unions,  not  only  within  their  own  mo- 
nafterics,  but  with  refpe6l  to  laymen,  which,  Fleu- 
ry  fays,     was  intirely  contrary  to  the  antient  cuf- 

tOKlS. 

In  England  the  eftimation  of  monks  was  per- 
haps higher  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  world. 
Before  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror,  monks 
were  fettled  in  all  the  cathedral  churches  ;  but  this 
king  was  an  encourager  of  the  fecular  clergy,  and 
Vauquelve  bifhop  of  Winchefter,  taking  advan- 
tage 


412  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVII. 

tage  of  this  difpolition,  would  have  expelled  all  the 
monks,  but  he  could  not  get  the  confent  of  Lan- 
franc  archbifhop  of  Canterbury. 

A  gveat  change  took  place  gradually  in  the 
cxercifes  and  difcipline  of  monks,  which  at  this 
time  was  very  ftriking.  From  the  time  of  Lewis 
le  Debonnaire  bodilylabour  came  to  be  confidered 
as  unworthy  of  monks,  on  account  cf  moft  of  them 
being  then  clergymen.  To  fupply  this  defe6l  of 
labour,  the  recitation  ot  pfalms  was  added  to  all 
the  offices.  Tho'  bodily  labour  was  required  by 
the  rule  of  Clugny,  Ulric,  who  gives  an  account 
of  it,  fays  he  faw  nothing  of  it,  but  fhelling  beans, 
weeding  the  garden,  and  kneading  the  bread,  and 
that  not  every  day.  They  fung  in  going  to  their 
work,  or  returning  from  it,  and  alfo  during  the 
work  itfelf.  So  much  devotion,  fays  Fleury,  was 
good  in  itfelf;  but  it  would  have  been  better  to 
have  adhered  to  the  antient  cuftoms,  fince  fo  ma- 
ny offices  leffened  the  time  for  fludy,  as  well  as 
labour,  and  the  offices  themfelves  were  repeated 
more  negligently. 

Much  account  was  made  of  filence  in  this  mo- 
naflery,  efpecially  at  meals.  Nothing  was  faid  at 
certain  hours,  as  between  privie  and  tierce,  or 
between  none  and  vefpres ;  and  this  interval  was 
very  fhort.  Nothing  was  faid  in  the  church,  the 
dormitory,    the    refedory,    or  the  kitchen  ;     and 

when 


CEt.iV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  4l$ 

when  neceffity  required  that  they  fhould  make 
themfelves  underflood,  they  did  it  by  means  of 
figns. 

To  give  a  jufl  idea  of  the  chara£ler  and  manners. 
of  this  age,  it  will  be  ufeful  to  recite  the  more  re- 
markable inftances  of  atijlerity  that  occur  in  the 
Courfe  of  it;  and  the  high  efleem  in  virhich  the 
mofl;  painful  and  difgufting  aufleries  were  held 
fhews  the  prevailing  opinions  of  the  times. 

Romuald,  a  famous  folitary  of  Lombardy,  at 
the  end  of  the  tenth  century,  faid,  that  he  who 
would  be  perfe6l  ought  to  eat  every  day  that  he 
might  feel  hunger  every  day.  For  fifteen  years 
he  had  been  ufed  to  eat  only  on  faturdays  and  fun- 
days. 

Of  Nil,  a  folitary  in  Calabria,  it  is  faid  thaty 
one  year  he  drank  only  once  a  month.  He  often 
railed  the  whole  of  Tent,  without  eating  or  drink- 
ing, except  receiving  the  eucharifl.  He  fiept  only 
one  hour  in  the  night,  and  then  recited  the  p falter, 
making  five  hundred  genuflexions,  after  which 
he  faid  the  no6turnal  prayers  and  the  matins. 

But  the  greateft  champion  of  monkifh  aufleri- 
fy  in  this  or  any  other  age  was  one  Dominic,  the 
friend  of  P.  Damiani  bifhop  of  OIlia,  who  pub- 
lifhed  an  account  of  him.  His  relations  having 
fent  a  buckflcin  to  a  bifhop,  in  order  to  get  him 
made  a  prieft,    he  abllained  thro'  life  from  a6ling 

xxr 


-lfl4"  THE  HISTORY  OF         Per.  XA'IL' 

in  that  capacity,  and  devoted  hinifelf  to  the  life  of' 
a  hermit  at  Luccoli  in  Umbria,    fubmitting  to  ihe 
diredions  of  P.  Damiani,  whofe  cell  was  then  near 
to  his  own. 

For  many  years  he  wore  next  to  his  fkin  a  coat' 
6f  mail,  which  he  never  put.  oflF except  for  the  fake 
of  flagellation,  and  on  this  account  he  got  the 
:bame  of  cuirajficr.  He  never  paffed  a  day  with- 
out repea'ing  the  pfalter  twice,  whipping  himfelf 
dt  the  fame  time  with  both  hands,  a  handful  of 
rods  in  each.  But  during  Lent,  or  when  he  did 
penance  for  any  other  perfon,  he  repeated  at  kait 
three  pfalters  a  day,  giving  himfelf  difcipline  in 
the  fame  manner.  He  often  repeated  two  pfalters 
without  intermilFion,  always  difciplining  himfelf, 
.itnd  (landing  upright,  without  once  fitting  down, 
or  ceafmg  one  moment  to  beat  himfelf.  He  made 
an  hundred  genuflexions  in  the  recital  of  every 
lifteen  pfalms,  or  a  thoufand  in  the  whole  pfalter. 
At  one  time  he  repeated  the  whole  pfalter  eight 
times  in  the  couife  of  a  day  and  night,  but  then  he 
did  not  repeat  every  word  audibly,  but  only  men-' 
tally.  And  exerting  himfelf  to  the  utrnofl,  he 
6nce  repeated  the  pfalter  twelve  times  as  far  as  thd 
thirteenth  pfalm  in  one  day. 

Being  informed  that  bv  repeating  twelve  par- 
tkular  pfalms  eighty  times,  and  holding  the  arms 
m  the  form  of  a  crofs.  a  greai  penance  might  be  re'-' 

deemed^' 


§tc.  IV.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  415^ 

deemed,  he  repeated  thofe  twelve  pfalms  in  thai 
manner  eighiy  times  without  relling  himfelf.  In' 
repeating  the  pfalms,  he  added  the  canticles,  feveral 
other  hymns,  the  Athanalian  creed,  and  the  litany^, 
which  were  added  to  the  antient  pfalters.  It  was 
a  prevailmg  opmion  that  fince  ten  years  of  pe- 
nance were  due  for  one  Iiomicide,  twenty  homi- 
cides would  require  a  hundred  years  of  penance, 
and  that  an  hundred  years  of  penance  might  be 
commuted  by  the  recital  of  twenty  pfalters,  ac- 
companied with  difcipline.  Alfo  three  thoufand 
llrokes  with  a  whip  were  deemed  equivalent  to  a 
year  of  penance  ;  and  a  thoufand  lafbes  Vv-eie  giveii 
m  the  recital  of  ten  pfalters.  Confequently,  the 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pfalms  were  equivalent  t6 
five  years  of  penance,  and  twenty  pfalters  i6 
an  hundred]  years.  Dominic  performed  thii 
penance  of  an  hundred  years  in  fix  days.  At  the 
beginning  of  Lent  he  once  lequired  of  Damiani 
to  impofe  upon  him  a  penance  of  a  thoufand 
years,  and  he  had  nearly  performed  it  before  iht 
end  of  it. 

Befides  his  other  aufterities,  Dominic  wore 
four  rings  of  iron,  two  on  his  thighs,  and  two  on 
his  legs  ;  and  after  fome  time  he  added  four  others. 
Notwithflanding  this  fevere  penance,  he  lived  to 
a  great  age,  and  died  in  a.  d.  1062.  From  his 
Example  flagellation,    which  had  been  httle  ufed 

before,' 


4i$  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVIti 

before,  came  into  fafhion  with   religious  people,' 
women  as  v/ell  as  men. 

Rodolt  bifliop  of  Eugubid,  another  friend  of 
P.  Damiani,  recited  the  pfalter  at  lead  once  every 
day,  giving  himfelf  difcipline  with  both  his  hands. 
He  often  charged  himfelf  with  an  hundred  years  of 
penance,  which  he  performed  in  twenty  days. 

Tho'  the  great  lords  of  this  age  often  made 
very  light  of  excommunications,  and  every  thing 
relating  to  ecclefiaftical  difcipline,  we  meet  with 
fome  examples  of  a  rigorous  compliance  with  it. 
Otho  III,  as  a  penance  fer  fome  crime  which  he 
had  committed,  walked  barefoot  from  Rome  to 
mount  Garganus,  falling,  and  finging  pfalms  all 
the  way,  wearing  a  hair  cloth  next  his  fkin,  tho' 
over  it  he  wore  a  garment  ot  gold  and  purple  ;  and 
tho'  he  had  a  bed  of  flaite  in  his  room,  he  flept  on 
a  mat  of  reeds. 

In  thofe  fuperftitious  times  even  the  laity,  and 
independently  of  any  penance,  were  made  to 
reflrain  the  gratification  of  ihch  appetites,  an(I 
fubmit  to  certain  rc(lri£lions.  Fafling  in  the  forty 
days  of  Lent  was  univerfally  exa^led ;  and  mar- 
riage could  not  be  celebrated  in  this  feafon  of  mor- 
tification, even  tho'  the  confummation  was  de- 
ferred till  it  was  over.  At  a  council  in  Beneven- 
to  in  A.  D.  1091  it  was  forbidden  to  celebrate  mar- 
riage from  Sepliia^ejlvia,  till  the  otlave   of  Whit- 

fuiitide, 


§EC.V.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  Mf 

funtlde,   and  alfo  from  advent  to   the   odave  ol" 
Epiphany. 

Several  perfons^  and  fome  in  the  highefl;  ranks 
of  life,  made  a  merit  of  living  in  continence  even 
^V^hen  they  were  married.  When  the  emperor 
Henry  II  died  in  a.  d.  1024  he  (imt  for  the  rela- 
tions of  the  emprefs  Cunegund,  and  declared  to 
them,  that  he  reftored  her  to  them  as  much  a 
virgin  as  he  had  received  her.  This  emperor  after 
his  death  was  canonized.  Alfo  Edward  the  Con- 
feffor  of  England  declared  on  his  death  bed,  that 
Be  had  lived  with  his  wife  as  with  a  fifler. 


SECTION  V. 


DJ  the  Progrefs  of  Chrijliamty,  and  dj  the  State 
of  the  Jews  and  Chrifiian  SeBaries  in  this  Pc- 
Hod. 


c 


HRISTIANITY  made  (btrje  pr6^ 
grefs  in  this  period,  tho'  the  manner  of  its  propa- 
gation did  not  much  refemble  that  in  which  it  was 
promoted  in  the  primitive  times.  But  at  this  time 
it  was  a  very  different  thing,  and  every  thing  re- 
lating to  it  was  conduced  in  a  different  manner. 

In  A.  D.  965  Miciflas,    duke  of  Poland,     was 

converted  to  ChriRianity   in   confequence   of  his 

Vol.   III.  D  d  having 


41^  tllE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XV it 

having  mairied  Dobrava,  a  fifter  of  Boleflas  king 
of  Bohemia,  who  was  a  Chriftian.  The  apoftlc 
of  the  Sclavonic  nations  in  general  was  Adalbert, 
the  firfl  archbifliop  of  Magdeburgh,  who  alfo 
preached  to  the  Ruffians.  But  the  cpnverfion  of 
the  Ruffians  is  moft  properly  dated  from  iht  reign 
of  Viadimer,  who  had  married  a  fifter  of  the  Greek 
emperor  in  a.  d.  .989.  Geifa,  duke  of  Hungary, 
v/ho  died  in  a.  d.  997,  and  who  had  married  his 
ion  Stephen  to  Gifelle  fifter  of  the  emperor  Hen- 
ry II,  embraced  Chriftianity,  and  promoted  the 
converfion  of  his  fubjefls,  and  this  was  fully  ac- 
complifhed  by  Stephen  himfelf.  In  the  time  of 
Conftantine  Alonomachus,  two  chiefs  of  the  Patzi- 
nachcs,  a  Scythian  nation,  became  converts  to 
Chriftianity,  in  order  to  be  aftifl:ed  by  the  emperor 
againft  their  prince  who  had  ufed  th€m  ill ;  (o 
that,  as  Fleury  fays,  thefe  converfions  feem  to 
have  been  a  little  interefted. 

Tho'  there  were  not  many  martyrs  in  thefe  con- 
vei'fions,  yet  a  few  perfons  are  mentioned  as  hav- 
ing fuffered  in  confequence  of  them.  Brunoil, 
who  took  the  name  of  Boniface,  of  a  noble  family 
iQ  Saxony,  was  put  to  death  by  the  Ruffians,  to 
whom  he  went  to  preach  in  a.  d.  1009.  *  Alfo 
Adalbert  bifhop  of  Piague  was  murdered,    as  he 

was' 

*  The  writer  of  the  notes  to  Moflieim  \i}^  that  He- 
lUcl  not  fuffer  martyrdom  in  Ruflia,.  Vol.  2.  p.  230. 


%%€.  r.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  4l^ 

was  preaching  to  the  Pmffians  in  a.  d.  99^.  And 
Gothefchalck,  prince  of  the  Sclavi,  was  killed  by 
his  pagan  fubje£ls,  when  he  was  endeavouring  to 
convert  them  in  a.  d.  1065.  Several  others  fuf- 
fered  with  him. 

Thefe  national  converfions  could  not  be  fup- 
J)ofed  to  have  been  grounded  on  conviQion ;  and 
accordingly  there  occur  in  this  period  feveral  in- 
ftances  of  relapfeS  into  idolatry.  AH  the  time  of 
the  Otho's  the  Sclavi  between  the  Elbe  and  the 
Eider  made  profeifion  of  Ghrifliahity  ;  but  in  a. 
to.  1013  they  revolted  from  theit  fubjeftion  to  the 
princes  al  Saxony,  and  at  the  fame  time  renounced 
their  l-eligibn,  tho'  they  had  profcfled  it  fixty 
years.  The  exa£lion  of  tythes  was  very  near  over- 
turning Chriftianity  in  Poland  in  the  beginning  of 
the  eleventh  Centuiy.  Some  of  the  lords  faid  that 
this  religion  was  inCupportable,  they  would  not 
go  to  churchj  and  driving  the  priefls  from  them, 
returned  to  their  antient  fuperftitions.  But  Boi 
leflas  arrefled  the  principal  of  them,  aiid  punifhed 
them  with  death.  In  a.  n.  1047  ^^^  Hungarians, 
being  diffatisfied  with  their  king  Peter,  demanded 
permiffion  to  live  ds  heathens,  according  to  their 
hntient  cuftoms,  and  to  kill  the  bifhops  and  {5riefls. 
Their  chiefs,  it  is  faid,  thought  proper  to  comply 
With  their  demands,  but  they  were  foon  aftei" 
brought  b.ick  to  the  profefTion  of  Chrifltanity. 

Dd  2  thg 


o 


420  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVII. 

The  Jews  were  great  fuflFerers  by  the  prejudice 
and  violence  of  the  Chriftians  in  this  period. 
The  church   of  the   holy  fepulchre  of  Jerufalem 

being  deftroyed  by  the  Saracens,     and,     as  it  was 
thought,  at  the  inftigation  of  the  Jews,  they  \\^ere, 
in  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh  century,  perfecuted 
in  a   cruel   manner  in  all  Chrillian  countries,    at 
leafl  in  the  Weft.       It   was   refolved    by  common 
confent  to   banifli    them.       Manv  were  drowned, 
and  put  to  death  in  other  ways,  and  fome  deftroyed 
themfelves.       The  bifliops    forbad  all  Chriftians 
having    any   intercourfe    with    them.       Many   to 
avoid  death  fubmitted  to  be  baptized,  butfoon  af- 
ter returned  to  their  former  cuftoms.     It  appeared, 
however,  that  the  account  of  the  guilt  of  the  Jews 
in  this  bufinefs   had  no  foundation   in  truth,    and 
the  bearer  of  the  letter  which  produced  all  the  mif- 
chief  being  difcovered,    he  was  feverely  whipped, 
and  confeffing  his  crime,     was  condemned   to  be 
burned  to  death. 

In  A.  D.  1012  the  emperor  Henry  baniflied 
all  Jews  from  Mayence.  It  appears  from  the 
letters  of  Alexander  II  to  the  biftiops  of  Gaul,  that 
ihofe  Chriftians  who  went  to  fight  againft  the  Sa- 

>  racens  made  a  merit  of  killing  the  Jews  they  met 
with.  For  this  pope  praifes  them  for  proteding 
the  Jews  from  thofe  perfons,  and  highly  condemns 

the  pradice. 

The 


Sec.  V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  421 

The  crufaders  made  a  point  of  maflacring  all 
the  Jews  they  met  with  in  their  pafTage  to  the  holy 
land.  The  mofl;  moderate  account  fays. that  going 
by  Cologn,  Mentz,  Wormb,  and  Spire,  they 
killed  or  drowned,  from  April  to  July,  live  thou- 
fand  perfons,  and  compelled  great  numbers  to  re- 
nounce their  religion.  Chriilian  hiftorians  fay 
that  fourteen  hundred  were  burned  in  Mentz  only, 
and  as  they  made  refiilance,  one  half  of  the  city 
fvas  reduced  to  afhes.  Thofe  of  Worms  took  re- 
fuge with  the  bifhop,  but  he  would  not  receive 
them,  except  on  the  condition  of  their  becoming 
Chrillians.  Thofe,  however,  who  did  To  abjured 
Chriflianity  when  the  llorm  was  over.  Many 
killed thcmfeives.  At  Treves  the  women,  feein'- 
the  crufaders  approach,  killed  their  own  children, 
faying  it  was  better  to  fend  them  to  Abraham's 
bofom  than  abandon  them  to  the  Chrillians.  The 
bifhop  of  Spire  fhewed  more  humanity.  He  not 
only  protected  thofe  who  took  refuge  witli  him, 
but  caufed  fome  of  thofe  who  peifecuted  them  to 
be  hanged.  The  annalifts  of  Bavaria  fay  that 
twelve  thoufand  were  killed  in  their  country. 
Others  make  this  number  much  greater.  This 
perfecution  Vv-as  not  confined  to  Germany,  thro' 
which  the  crufaders  paffed,  but  was  a  general  one, 
extending  to  England,  France,  Spain,  and  Italy. 
Y(it\i  the  account  of  this  perfjcution  the    jcwifh 

D  d  o  hiilo- 


/ 


423  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVII. 

hiftoiian  R.  Gans  concludes  his  hidory;  faying 
the  flench  of  it  was  infupportab'e.  Bafnage,  VoL 
9- p- 100.  193.  196.  Abarbinel  confiders  this  a^ 
the  moft  cruel  of  all  the  perfecutions  of  his  nation. 
A  greater  number  of  Jews,  he  fays,  left  Spain  on 
this  account  than  lelt  Egypt  under  Mofes.  lb, 
481. 

We  cannot  expetl  much  ca^m  difcufiion  of  iha 
queflion  between  the  Jews  and  Chriftians  in  this 
period;  and  yet  we  find  fome  recourfe  had  to 
argument.  In  Africa  a  ^tw  afkedleavc  of  the  Fa- 
temite  Calif  Mouaz  to  have  a  conference  with  the 
Chriflians  in  his  prefence.  This  was  granted,  and 
it  is  faid  that  the  Jew  was  confuted  by  Severus,  a 
celebrated  dodor  among  the  Jacobites.  Several 
works  of  this  Severus  are  extant,  efpecially  a  hifto- 
ry  of  the  patriarchs  of  Alexandria,  now  in  the 
public  library  at  Paris. 

About  the  year  a.  d.  1076,  Samuel,  a  con- 
verted Jew  of  Morocco,  wrote  a  treatife  addrelied 
to  anolher  Jew  of  the  name  of  Ifaac  in  favour  of 
Chriftianity  ;  alleging  particularly  the  long  con- 
tinuance of  their  fufferings  fince  the  death  of 
Chrift,  fo  much  exceeding  that  of  the  Babylonith 
captivity,  and  diflinguifhing  the  two  comings  of 
the  Meffiah.     Pi6let,  a.  d.  1072. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh  century  there 
were  fcveral  eminent  Jcwifh  do6lors  in  Spain,  and 

arnop, 


Sec.  V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  42^ 

among  them  Ifaac  Alphofi,  who  came  from  Fez  in 
i^frica,    and   another   Ifaac,   the    fon  of  Baruch. 

PlCtd,     A.    D.    1004. 

Notwith {landing  the  overbearing  influence  of 
the  church  of  Rome,  fupported  by  all  the  fecular 
powers  of  Europe,  there  were  at  all  times,  and 
efpecially  in  the  lower  orders  of  men,  thofe  who 
reje£led  the  do6lrines,  and  refufsd  to  conform  to 
tjie  difcipline,  of  that  church.  Such  were  the  dif- 
ciples  of  Clement  and  Adalbert  in  a  preceding  pe- 
riod, and  fuch  were  the  Prifcillianifts  in  the  Wefl:, 
and  the  Paulicians  in  the  Eafl.  Both  thefe  fcd^ 
were  very  numerous ;  and  tho'  grievoufly  pciTe- 
cuted,  they  were  by  no  means  extinguifhed.  We 
now  find  an  union  probably  of  both  thefe  under 
the  appellation  of  Manicheans,  in  feveral  parts  of 
France,  and  it  is  certain  they  held  feveral  of  the 
diflinguifhing  principles  of  the  Gnoflics,  from 
which  thofe  of  the  Manicheans  were  a  branch . 
That  remains  of  Prifcillianifts  fhould  now  appear 
in  France  will  not  be  thought  extraordinary,  fince 
they  were  not  only  in  Spain,  but  alfo  in  the  fouth 
of  France  in  a  former  period  ;  but  the  Paulicians, 
perfecutcd  in  Afia  Minor,  were  received  in  Bul- 
garia; and  when  they  were  driven  from  f hence 
they  went  to  Italy,  and  other  parts  of  the  Weft ; 
and  thofe  who.  are  now  called  Manicheans  in 
f  jange  are  faid  to  have  come  from  Italy.   MoJ/ieim, 

D  d  4  Voj. 


4%i  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XV IL 

Vol.  2.  p.  346.  They  are  frequently  called  pjp^ 
licani,  which  fome  thinks  to  have  been  a  corruption 
of  Paulicians  [Mojlieivi,  Vol.  2.  p.  347.)  and  Pata^ 
o'ini,  from  Pataria,  a  diilri£l  in  the  duchy  of  Mi- 
lan.* This  term  came  at  length  to  be  ufed  to  denote 
all  kinds  of  heretics.  lb.  p.  28r.  In  France  they 
were  called  Aliy'igenfcs,  not,  ?.s  has  been  fuppofed, 
from  their  chiefly  refiding  in  the  town  of  Alby,  but 
becaufe  their  tenets  were  condemned  in  a  council 
held  there.    lb.  p.  347. 

We  find  the  firft.  diPiinQ  mention  of  them  m 
the  becrinnin^T  of  the  elevenih  century.  We  have 
no  writings  of  theirs,  by  which  to  judge  of  their 
principles  ;  but  if  we  may  at  all  depend  upon  the 
accounts  cf  their  enemies,  they  rejcded  the 
dodrine  of  the  trinity,  ihcy  difbelieved  the  crea- 
tion of  the  world,  fuppofmg  probably  that  matter 
was  eternal,  and  the  world  formed  out  of  it  by 
fome  evil  being.  They  denied  that  Chrift  was 
born  of  a  virgin,  by  which  they  meant  that  his 
flefh  was  not  derived  from  her  but  was  a  creation 
in  her  womb.  They  are  faid  alfo  to  have  denied 
the  death  and  refurre£lion  of  Chrift,  but  with 
refpe6l  to  this  it  is  probable  they  made  the  di{lin6l- 
ion  of  the   antient    Gnoilics,    believing   that    he 

died 

*  Giannone  fays  they  were    called  Paterlnt    frora 
their  rcadinefs  to  fuffer  for  their  religion.    Vol.  1.  p. 


Sec.V.    the  christian  church^  4US 

died  only  in  appearance.  But  the  greateft  ofFence 
they  gave  was  their  rejecting  the  milerable  but  gain- 
ful fupevflitions  of  the  times  refpecling  the  rites  of 
the  church,  and  the  powers  of  the  clergy.  Bap- 
tifm  they  faid  did  not  wafti  away  fin,  and  they 
were  the  firft  who  denied  it  to  infants,  while  they 
adminiftered  it  to  adults,  ff^all's  Hijlory  of  Injaiit 
haptifm.  Vol.  2.  p.  177. 

They  maintained  that  the  euchariflical  elements 
did  not  becorne  the  body  and  blood  of  Chrift  by 
confecration,  and  that  it  was  ufelefs  to  pray  to  the 
faints.  They  condemned  marriage  from  the  prin- 
ciple that  matter  was  the  fource  of  all  evil,  and  that  it 
is  our  great  bufinefs  to  mortify  the  body ;  and 
they  forbad  eating  flefli  meat.  Like  the  primitive 
Chriftians,  they  were  charged,  but  no  doubt  falfe- 
ly,  with  the  promifcuous  ufe  of  women,  and  with 
privately  killing  young  children,  and  other 
enormities. 

A  fcciety  of  thefe  perfons  being  betrayed  by 
one  who  belonged  to  the  court  of  the  duke  of  Nor- 
mandy (and  who  had  pretended  to  join  them)  was 
brought  before  thocouncil of  Orleans  in  a,  d.  1022  ; 
when,  being  charged  with  holding  the  opinions 
abovementioned,  they  declared  that  fuch  had  al- 
ways been  their  belief,  and  they  hoped  that  even 
that  affenibly  would  embrace  their  dodiines,  as 
they  were  tha  pure  truth.       Being   alked,    among 

P  d  ;;  pther 


42^  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVII, 

ether  queilions,  whether  they  did  not  beheve  that 
God  the  Father  created  every  thing  out  of  nothing 
by  his  fon,  they  rephed,  *'  You  may  tell  thefe 
*>  tales  to  thofe  who  have  earthly  thoughts,  and 
*'  who  believe  the  inventions  of  carnal  men,  written 
"  on  the  fkins  of  animals ;  but  it  is  in  vain  that 
f«  you  talk  in  this  manner  to  us  who  have  the 
"  law  written  by  the  fpirit  of  God  in  the  innej: 
f*  man.  But  make  an  end,  and  do  with  us  what- 
"  ever  you  pleafe." 

The  difputation  with  them  at  this  council  con- 
tinued from  day  light  till  three  in  the  afternoon^ 
when  they  were  threatened  with  being  burned  ar 
live  if  they  did  not  renounce  their  opinions,  but 
they  profcffed  that  they  did  not  fear  death  in  any 
form.  After  this  thofe  of  them  who  were  priefts 
were  formally  degraded,  and  the  queen,  who  had 
the  charge  of  the  door,  with  her  own  ring  ftruck 
out  the  eye  of  one  of  them  of  the  name  of  Stephen, 
who  had  been  her  own  confeffor.  Of  thirteen  of 
them  only  one  man,  who  was  of  the  clergy,  and 
one  woman,  who  is  faid  to  have  been  a  nun,  re- 
canted ;  all  the  refl  went  with  the  greateft  chear- 
fulnefs  to  the  ftake,  and  were  burned  alive.  It 
now  appearing  that  one  Theodat,  a  finger  in  the 
f:ime  church,  who  had  been  dead  three  years,  was 
in  the  fame  herefy,  they  dug  up  his  body,  refufing 
him  Chriflian    jjurial.      Others  of   thefe   heretics 

wevc 


|Sec.  V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  42r 

were  burned  at  Thouloufe,  and  other  places  ;    for 
they  were  found  in  many  parts  of  the  Weft. 

More  of  thcfe  Manicheans,  as  they  are  called, 
were  found  at  Arras  in  a.  d.  1025,  by  feme  per* 
fons  who  came  from  Italy,  when  Gerard  the 
biihop  of  that  city  caufed  forae  of  them  to  be  feized  ; 
and  after  queftioning  them,  he  put  them  in  prifon. 
Then,  proceeding  with  great  folemnity  in  the  bu{i-» 
nefs,  he  ordered  a  faft  of  his  clergy,  in  order  to 
procure  their  converfion.  On  the  third  day  after 
this,  being  funday,  he  went  in  great  ftate  to  the 
pathedral  church,  and  delivered  a  difcourfe  on  the 
iubje6l.  He  then  queftioned  them  concerning 
the  perfon  from  whom  they  learned  their  tenets, 
when  they  mentioned  one  Gandolf  from  Italy, 
faying  that  he  taught  them  to  receive  no  othev 
fcriptures  than  the  gofpels  and  the  a6ls  of  the 
apoftles.  Having  been  informed  that  they  rejeQed 
baptifm  and  the  Lord's  fupper,  with  the  other  or^ 
dinances  of  the  church,  he  put  queftions  to  them 
on  thofe  fubjefts,  and  in  reply  to  what  the  bifhop 
had  faid  with  refpeft  to  them,  they  faid,  "  Our 
*"  do£lrine  confifts  in  abandoning  the  world,  rp- 
^'  preffing  the  dc fires  of  the  flelh,  living  by  the  la- 
f*  hour  of  our  hands,  doing  wrong  to  nobody,  and 
V  exercifing  charity  towards  our  brethren.  In  oh- 
."  ferving  thefe  things  we  think  we  have  no  need  of 
*'  baptifm,  s^nd  if  lye  violate  tj^efe  things  baptifqi 

««  will 


42S  ?HE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  '^Vll. 

«  will  not   avail  us."       They  likewife  urged    the 
bad  lives  of  the  clergy  who  admin Iftered  baptifm. 
To  this  the  bifhop  replied  with  the  ufaal  ar- 
guments, alleging  the  baptifm  of  the  eunuch  and  of 
Cornelius,  and  faying  that  the  unworthinefs  of  the 
miniller  does  not  prevent  the  efficacy  of  the  facra- 
ment,  &c.  See.     Being  probably  terrified,    for  we 
can  hardly  fuppofe  that  they  were  really  convmced, 
by  what  they  mull  have  often  heard    before    (and 
from  other  accounts  it  appeared  that  they  had  been 
put  to  the  torture,     PiBei,  a.  d.  1025.)   they  ac- 
knowledged themfelves   to  have  been  in  an  error, 
and  the  bilhop  continued  his  inftrudions    on  the 
fubjeft    of  material    churches,     which   they  had 
treated  with  contempt,  as  mere  heaps  of  ftone,  to- 
gether with  the  altar,  the  incenfe,    and   the  bells. 
He  alfo  explained  to  his  audience  the  nature  and 
ufe  of  the  ecclefiaflical  orders ;  for  they  had  defpifed 
all  external  worlhip,    thinking  it  to  be  a  matter  of 
indifference   who  were   their  minifters,     in  what 
place  they  exercifed  it,    or  where  they  buried  their 
dead ;  funeral  ceremonies  being  the  invention  of 
avaricious  priefts.     He  alfo  inftruaed  them  in  the 
ufe  of  penance,    which  he  maintained   to  be  fer- 
viceable  even  to  the  dead.      For,  faid  he,  a  perfon 
may  perform  the  penance  which   his    friend    was 
pr:^vented  from  domg  by  death.     He  defended  the 
jjeccffity  of  grace  againft  what  he  called  the  falfe 

rightcouf- 


&EC.V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  42^ 

righteoufnefs  of  thefe  heretics ;  from  which  it  is 
probable  that  they  had  Jaid  great  flrefs  on  perfonal 
virtue,  in  oppofition  to  every  thing  that  fuperfli- 
tion  and  falfe  notions  had  fubflituted  in  the  p!ace 
of  it.  On  this  occaiion  he  alfo  defended  the  law- 
fulnefs  of  marriage,  which  they  were  faid  to  have 
denied.  He  concluded  with  pronouncing  a  folemn 
condemnation  of  all  the  articles  of  their  do£lrine, 
and  fent  an  account  of  this  fynod,  as  it  is  called, 
to  a  neighbouring  bifhop,  who  is  fuppofed  to  have 
been  that  of  Liege,  to  guard  him  againfl  thofe 
heretics,  who  were  fo  difguifed  in  his  diocefe  as  to' 
have  pafTed  undifcovered. 

The  emperor  Henry  I,  finding  many  of  thefe 
Manicheans  at  Collar,  w^ien  he  celebrated  the 
feflival  of  Chriflmas  there  in  a.  d.  1051,  by  the 
advice  of  bifhops  and  lords  who  were  alTembled  on 
that  occafion,  ordered  them  to  be  hanged,  left 
their  herefy  fhould  extend  farther.  We  fhall  find, 
however,  in  the  fubfequefit  periods  of  their  hifto- 
ly,  that  this  herefy  was  not  to  be  prevented  from 
Spreading  by  thefe  meafurcs. 

The  controverfy  that  chiefly  agitated  the  Latin 
church  in  this  period  was  that  with  Berenger  con- 
cerning the  eucharifl.  He  was  a  native  of  Tours, 
and  raafter  of  a  fchool  there.  He  alTo  taught  in 
that  city  after  he  was  made  archdeacon  of  Angers. 
He  fe.ems  to  have  imbited   fomc  of  the  fentiments 

of 


48®  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVlf/ 

of  the  Manicheans ;  for  he  is  faid  to  have  difputed: 
againft  the  baptifm  of  infants,  and  alfo  againlt 
niarriage,  as  well  as  to  have  maintained  the  doc- 
trine of  John  Scotus  againft  Pafchafius  on  the  fub-i 
je6l  of  the  eucharift.  Being  oppofed  by  Lanfranc^ 
then  prior  of  the  abbey  of  Bee  in  Normandy,  he 
wrote  him  a  letter  of  hiendly  expoftulation  ;  telling 
him  that  if  he  condemned  the  opinion  of  John 
Scotus,  as  heretical,  he  mull  condemn  Ambrole 
Jerom,   Auftin,  and  many  others. 

Berenger  was  univerfally  allowed  to  be  a  man 
of  a  moft  excellent  private  charafter.  William  of 
Malmfbury  fays  he  was  regarded  by  fome  as  a  fain^, 
and  commended  lor  having  done  an  infinity  of 
good  works.  Hildebert  bilhop  ol  Mans,  who 
St.  Bernard  fays  was  a  man  worthy  of  all  refpeft, 
and  a  firm  pillar  of  the  church,  wrote  his  epitaph ; 
and  greater  praife  could  riot  be  given  to  any  man 
than  is  given  to  him  in  it.   Pidd,   a.  d.  I050. 

The  firft  who  publifhed  any  thing  againft  Be- 
renger was  Hugo  biftiop  of  Langres,  in  a.  d.  1050, 
who  exhorted  him  not  to  maintain  fingular  opt- 
jiions.  For,  fays  he,  you  fee  the  eucharift  with 
other  eyes  than  ,the  generality  of  Chriftians.  By 
this  time  the  do6lrineof  Pafchafius  of  the  real  pre- 
fence,  and  the  change  of  the  elemervts  into  the  bo- 
dy and  blood  of  Chrift,  was  probably  the  general 
opinion,  tho*  it  was  a  long  time  in  becoming  fo. 

Beren-. 


Sec.  V.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  4Si 

Berenger's  arguments  againft  it  mud  have  made  a 
great  impreffion  on  many,  and  have  excited  much 
attention.  For  in  a  council  held  at  Rome  in  a^ 
D.  1050  his  doQrine  was  condemned,  and  himfelf 
excommunicated.  On  this  he  retired  to  Norman-» 
dy,  where  he  had  conferences  on  the  fubjeft  of 
his  do£lrine  with  the  ckrgy  of  Brione,  and  of 
Chartres,  the  former  in  the  prefence  of  Willianj 
duke  of  Normandy.  In  thefe  conferences,  far 
from  appearing  to  have  been  intimidated  by  the 
a6ls  of  the  late  council  at  Rome,  he  is  faid  to  have 
treated  the  church  of  Rome  as  heretical,  not  even 
excepting  pope  Leo. 

Berenger,  continuing  refraflory,  was  cited  t& 
appear  at  a  council  at  Verceil  in  the  fame  year, 
when  pope  Leo  I X  prefided  ;  but  he  did  not  at- 
tend. In  this  council  the  treatife  of  John  Scotus 
concerning  the  euchari ft  was  read,  condemned, 
and  publickly  burned  ;  and  the  opinion  of  Beren- " 
ger  was  alfo  cenlured.  Two  clergymen  who  thejx 
attended  tor  him  were  faid  to  have  been  confound- 
ed, fo  as  to  be  unable  to  defend  him,  and  they 
were  arrefled. 

Notwithftanding  thefe  folemn  condemnations, 
the  opinion  of  Berenger  continued  to  fpread  fo 
much  in  France,  as  to  give  much  alarm.  King 
Henry  hearing  of  it,  by  the  advice  of  his  bifhops 
and  lords,  appointed  a  council   to  be  held  qn  the 

fub- 


43*  .        THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVll. 

fubje£l  at  Paris,  and  Bcrenger  himfelf  was  ordered 
to  attend.  He  did  not,  however,  go  thither,  but 
Continued  with  Brunon  bifhop  of  Langres,  who 
was  of  the  fame  opinion  with  him  ;  but  a  letter  of 
his  to  a  friend,  which  had  been  intercepted,  was 
read  at  this  council,  and  was  heard  with  much 
indignation ;  and  his  dodrine  and  the  treatife  of 
Scotus  were  agaiii  condemned.  In  confequence 
of  this,  the  king,  who  was  himfelf  abbot  of  St. 
Martin's  at  Tours,  ordered  the  revenue  of  Beren- 
ger  trom  that  abbey  to  be  withdrawn.  On  this 
Berentrer  wrote  a  letter  of  remonftrance  to  that 
prince,  by  means  of  a  friend,  who  had  accefs  to 
him,  in  which  he  faid  it  was  unjufl  in  the  council 
of  Verceil  to  condemn  John  Scotus,  who  wrote 
at  the  requeft  of  king  Charles  the  Bald,  a  prince 
who  had  the  greateft  zeal  for  religion,  left  the  er- 
rors of  ignorant  and4lupid  people  fhould  prevail. 

This  letter  does  not  appear  to  have  had  any  ef- 
feft,  and  the  firmnefs  of  Berenger  did  not  hold  out 
much  lonti^er.  For  at  a  council  held  at  Tours  in 
A.  D.  1054,  where  Hildebrand,  afterwards  Gre- 
gory VII,  attended,  Berenger  and  Lanfranc,  who 
was  for  fome  time  fufpefted  of  favouring  him, 
bein^T  introduced,  the  former  made  a  public  recan- 
tation of  his  do6lrine,  and  was  received  into  com- 
munion. Aifo,  at  another  council  held  in  Rome 
in  A.  D.  1059,    Berenger  made  a  more  folemn  re- 

tra6la- 


Sec.V.    the  christian  church.  4U 

tra61:ation  of  his  opinion,  declaring  that  if  he  fhould 
ever  think  or  preach  othervvife  than  as  the  church 
prefcribed  he  would  fubmit  to  the  feverity  of  the 
Canons.  He  even  himfelf  lighted  a  fire  in  the 
midft  of  the  council,  and  threw  into  it  the  book 
wh^ch  contained  his  opinions.  But  as  foonashe  was 
Out  of  the  council  he  wrote  againfl;  the  confefliofi 
he  had  there  made  of  his  faith,  inveighing  againfl 
cardinal  Humbert,  who  had  drawn  it  up  for  him. 

On  this  occalion  Lanfranc  addrefled  an  epiflle 
to  Berenger,  particularly  reproaching  him  for 
teaching  in  private  what  for  fear  of  death  he  had 
denied  before  the  council ;  and  in  reply  (o  Beren- 
ger's  faying  that,  it  was  impolTible  that  the  fame 
body  of  Chrift  could  be  in  heaven  at  the  fame  time 
that  it  was  eaten  by  the  communicants,  he  faid 
*'  It  is  a  myftery  of  faith,  ufeful  to  be  believed, 
**  but  not  ufeful  to  be  examined." 

The  do6lrine  of  the  eucharifl  was  again  dif- 
feuffed  at  the  council  ofRoueti  in  a.  d.  1074,  and 
\vith  fo  tnuch  warmth  that  Berenger,  who  was 
prefent,  was  near  being  killed.  And  about  the 
fame  time  Guimond,  a  Spanifh  monk  and  a  dif- 
ciple  of  Lanfranc,  dsllinguiOied  himfelf  by  writing 
againfl  Berenger,  beginning  with  reproaching  him 
for  his  aflFeftation  of  fuperior  wifdom,  when  he 
was  very  young.  What  handle  Berenger  had 
given  tor  this  does  not  now  appear,  uor  is  it  all  to 
Vol.  III.  E  e  th« 


4U  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVII. 

•the  purpofe.  With  refpe£l  to  the  argument,  what 
is  advanced  by  Guimond  is  particularly  curious. 
In  anfvv'er  to  the  obje6lion  that  all  the  communi- 
cants cannot  receive  a  whole  Chrift,  he  fays,  that 
"  not  only  does  every  fingle  hoft  contain  a  whole 
*'  Chrift,  but  every  particle  of  every  hoft ;  and 
**  tho'  a  thoufand  mafles  were  celebrated  at  the 
*'  lame  time,  all  the  communicants  receive  the  one 
*'  only  indivifible  body  of  Chrift.  It  is,"  he  fays, 
"  only  to  the  fenfes  that  a  fingle  particle  of  a  hoft 
"  feems  lefs  than  the  whole,  but  the  fenfes  often 
*•'  deceive  us."  He  owns  that  it  is  difficult  to  UH" 
derjiand  this  tranfmutation  of  the  elements.  But 
fays  it  is  not  difficult  to  believe  it,  the  only  quef- 
tion  being  whether  God  wills  the  change.  How- 
ever he  illuftrates  the  fubjefl  by  faying,  that  when 
a  man  fpeaks,  the  fame  voice  is  heard  intire  by 
the  greateft  multitude. 

Some  of  the  difciples  of  Berenger  having  main- 
tained what  they  called  the  do6lrine  oiimpanation-^ 
which  was  that  the  real  body  of  Chrift,  and  the 
fubftance  of  bread  and  wineexifted  together,  Gui* 
mond  replied  to  them  as  well  as  to  Berenger  him* 
felf.  He  faid  the  Berengarians  could  not  be  the  true 
church  of  Chrift,  becaufe  they  did  not  occupy  a 
fingle  city,  or  even  a  village.  The  queftion,  he 
fays,  is  of  infinite  moment,  eternal  life  depending^ 
upon  it.      Li  the  laft  place,    he  replies  to   thofe 

who' 


c  *  > 


Sec.  V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  isi 

ivho  faid  that  the  elements  ceafed  to  be  the  body 
of  Chrift  to  unworthy  communicants.  Durandus 
alfo,  the  abbot  of  Trouarn  in  Normandy,  wrote 
iigainfl;  Berenger;  but  he  advanced  nothing  newl 
Thus  at  this  time  ended  the  famous  controverfy 
concerning  what  was  afterwards  called  the  dodlrine 
of  tranfubjlantiation,  and  which  came  to  be  thei 
rnofl  dillinguifhing  article  of  the  church  of 
Rome. 

But  tho'  nothing  more  was  written  in  the  time 
of  Berenger,  fomething  more  was  dune.  At  the 
council  held  in  Rome  in  a.  d.  1078,  being  urged 
to  renounce  hi*  error,  he  gave  a  fhort  confeffion  of 
his  faith,  and  obtained  a  delay  of  his  fentence  till 
the  next  council  in  the  Lent  following.  At  this 
council  fome  of  the  biOiops  maintained  that  the 
elements  were  only  a  figure,  which  looks  as  if  Ber- 
enger was  not  without  the  fupport  of  fome  perfons 
of  eminence  in  the  church  ;  but  this  opinion  was 
fet  afide,  and  it  was  agreed  ihat  the  elements  were 
the  real  body  of  Chrifl,  and  Berenger  was  induced 
to  fign  an  ample  recantation  of  all  that  he  fiad 
taught  to  the  contrary  ;  and  in  confequence  of  tiiis 
he  was  difmiffed,  and  folemnly  charged  to  teach 
nothing  more  concerning  the  eucharift,  except  with 
a  view  to  recover  thofe  whom  he  had  led  into  er- 
ror. But,  as  before,  he  was  no  fooner  in  France,' 
Shan  he  wrote  againft  this  laft  confeffion,    as  he 


435  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVH. 

had  done  againft  the  former,    which  had  been  ex- 
torted from  him  in  the  fame  manner. 

In  France  Berenger  muft  have  had  many  and  . 
very  powerful  friends ;  for,  notwithftanding  his 
perfilling  in  his  opinion,  we  find  him  at  a  council 
at  Bourdeaux  in  a.  d.  1080  ;  but  what  paffed 
there  is  not  faid,  except  that  he  there  gave  an  ac- 
count of  his  faith.  He  lived  eight  years  after  this 
in  a  ftate  of  retirement  near  Tours,  dying  in  a. 
D.  1088,  and  in  communion  with  the  church. 
He  was  much  commended  for  his  charity  to  the 
poor,  and  two  of  the  beft  poets  of  the  age  com- 
pofed  magnificent  epitaphs  for  him. 

The  opinion  of  Berenger  did  not  die  with  him  ; 
for  it  was  thought  neceffary  to  condemn  it  once 
more  at  the  council  of  Placcntia  in  a.  d.  1095, 
when  it  was  declared  that  the  bread  and  wine,  duly 
confecrated  at  the  altar,  are  not  only  a  figure,  but 
changed  truly  and  effentially  into  the  body  and 
blood  of  Chrirt. 

The  do6lrine  concerning  the  nature  of  the  prer 
fence  of  Chrifl  in  the  eucharifl  was  not  fettled  in 
the  time  of  Berenger,  and  the  confeflions  of  his 
faith  which  he  was  required  to  give  from  time  to 
time  varied  from  each  other.  He  adhered  to  th  at 
which  he  had  fubfcribed  in  the  two  firft  Romaa 
councils  approved  by  Gregory  VII,  MoJJuim, 
Vol.  2.  p.  338. 

Folk. 


SIec.  V.     THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  t'Jf 

Folkheim  abbot  of  Lobes,    in   tbe  bifbo'pnck  " 
of  Liege,    wrote  againft  the    real  preferice;     and 
Hereger,    who  fucceeded  him,     made  a  col]e6lion 
of  palTages  from  the  Fathers  againft    the  doftrine 
of  Pafchafius.   PiBet,   a.  n.  1007. 

It  is  probable  that,  in  this  period,  there  were 
many  of  the  difciples  of  Clement  and  Adalbert, 
who  refufed  to  communicate  with  the  Romilh 
church.  For  at  a  co.uncil  held  at  Amalphi  in  a. 
D.  1089,  the  clergy  called  Acephali,  orthofewho 
had  no  connexion  with  the  Catholic  bifhops  were 
condemned,    and  alfo  fome  vagabond  monks. 

There  was  fome  little  difcuffion  of  the  doQrine 
of  the  trinity  in  this  period,  in  confequence  of  what 
was  advanced  by  Rofcellin,  a  celebrated  teacher, 
but  rather  of  logic,  than  of  theology.  He  faid 
that  the  three  divine  perfons  were  three  things,  as 
diflin6)^  from  each  other  as  three  angels,  tho'  they 
had  but  one  will,  and  one  power.  Otherwife,  h0 
faid,  it  would  follow  that  both  the  Father  and  the 
Holy  Spirit  rnuft  have  been  incarnate,  as  well  as 
the  Son  ;  that,  indeed,  ftriftly  fpeaking,  they  fliould 
have  been  c^Wo-di  three  God?>,  but  caftom  had  not 
authorized  if.  Lanfranc  and  Anfelm  he  faid  were 
of  the  fame  opinion.  As  this  was  an  age  in  which 
many  perfons  began  to  fpcculate  on  metaphyfical 
and  theological  fubjefts,  this  doclrine  was  confi- 
dered  in  a  council  held  by  Renauld  archbifhop  of 

£  «  3  Rheims 


43?  THE  HISTORY  OF     Per.  XVII. 

'.-■  '•.  '■-"•' 

Rheims  at  Compeigne  in  a.  d.  1092,  and  con- 
demned ;  and  Anfelm,  hearing  what  Rofcellin 
.  had  faid  concerning  his  opinion  on  the  fubjetl,  fent 
to  this  couricil  to  difclaim  it,  and  vouching  the  fame 
for  Lanfranc,  who  was  then  dead.  He  faid  he 
Ihould  not  argue  wiih  Rolcellin  on  the  fubj^6t, 
giving  this  curious  reafon  for  it.  "  Our  faith,"  h^ 
faid,  "  mu(l  be  defended  by  reafon  agamft  infidels, 
*'  but  not  ajainfl  thofe  who  bear  the  name  of 
Chaftians  ;"  meaning  probably  that  in  iheir  cafe  it 
was  fnfficient  to  appeal  to  the  authority  of  the 
church,  which  they  allowed.  Rofcellin  himlelf 
appeared  at  this  counci  ,  and  abjured  his  opinion  ; 
but,  like  Beren^er,  he  flill  coniinued  to  teach  it, 
faying  he  had  abjured  becaufe  he  was  afraid  of 
being  knocked  on  the  head  by  the  popu'ace. 

Anfelm,  who  may  be  faid  to  have  been  the  fa- 
ther of  that  fubtle  method  of  reafoning  on  theolo- 
gical  fubje6ls  which,  being  ufed  in  fchools,  after- 
wards obtained  the  name  oi  fcholajlic,  wrote  a 
treaiife  to  folve  the  queftion,  "  why  God  became 
."  man,  in  orddr  to  give  life  to  the  world  by  his 
*'  death,"  when  he  might  have  efiPefted  the  fame 
purpofe  by  means  of  an  angel,  or  a  mere  man,  or 
by  his  fole  will  and  power;  which  fliews,  that 
the  principle  of  what  is  now  called  the  do6lrine  of 
atonement  was  by  no  means  eftablifhed  at  this 
timp. 

Some, 


Sfc.  V.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  43f 

Some,   who    were   called     Anthropomorphies,' 
were  found  in  this  period.      For  Ratherius,  bifhop 
of  Verona,  wrote   againft  them.       This  doQrine, 
it  has  been  feen,    was  held  with  peculiar  obftinacy 
by  many  monks  in  the  Eaft. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  terith  century  an  opi- 
nion prevailed  that  the  world  would  come  to  an 
end  in  the  year  one  thoufand  after  Chrift.  Many 
of  the  donations  that  were  made  to  the  church 
about  this  time  exprelfed  this  opmion  ;  the  writ- 
ings beginning  with  the  phrafe  the  end  of  the  world 
keing  at  hand,  &c.  MoJJieim,  Vol.  2.  p.  218. 
4.bbon,  the  abbot  of  Fleury  at  that  time,  fays  he 
pbferved  this  error,  and  refuted  it  froni  the  Gofpels, 
the  Revelation,  and  the  book  of  Daniel. 

About  the  fame  time  many  perfons,  fond  of 
the  antient  poets,  abandoned  the  fcripturcs,  and 
took  their  faith  from  them,.  This  was  too  alarm- 
ing an  evil  to  be  fuffered  to  fpread.  One  of  thefe 
perfons  was  condemned  by  the  bifhop  of  Ravenna, 
^^d  others,  it  is  faid,  were  deftroyed  by  fire  and 
fword;  but  we  have  no  fatisfaftory  account  of 
thefe  tranfa6lions.  At  this  time  alfo  there  ap- 
peared, as  it  is  faid,  feveraf  heretics,  but  their 
tenets  are  not  mentioned,  in  Sardinia,  "  fertile  in 
"  fuch  evils,  who  corrupted  fome  Chriflians  in 
'*  Spain;  but  they  were  exterminated  by  the  Ca- 
^'  tholics."      This  deluge  of  errors  was  thought  to 


44Q  THE  HISTORY  OF      Pi:r.  XVIl^ 

be  the  accomplifhment  of  the  prophecy  of  St.  John, 
who  faid  that    Satan    would  be  let  loofe   after  a . 
thoufand  years. 


SECTION  VI. 


OJ  the  Inter courfe  between   the   Greek,  and  Laiir^, 
Churches  in  this  Period, 


s 


OME  communication  between  the 
church  of  Conftantinople  and  that  of  Rome  in  this 
period  was  occafioned  by  a  letter  fent  by  Michael 
Cerularius,  patriarch  of  the  former  of  thefe  cities, 
to  John  biihop  of  Trani  in  Apulia,  in  which  he 
reproached  the  Latins  for  feveral  of  their  cu  floras, 
as  their  ufing  unleavened  bread  in  the  euchari^ 
eating  things  flrangled,  and  confequently  blood, 
falling  on  faturdays,  &c.  This  lettei  being  carried 
to  pope  Leo  IX,  he  treated  with  great  indignation, 
this  ,cenfure  of  the  church  of  Rome,  as  if  they  who' 
had  been  inftru6led  by  the  apoftle  Peter  had  then 
to  learn  how  to  celebrate  the  eucharift.  He  par- 
ticularly infilled  upon  the  donation  of  Conflan- 
tine,  as  an  argument  for  the  preeminence  of  the 
fee  of  Rome,  reproached  the  Greeks  for  making 
bifhops  of  eunuchs,  and  fhutting  up  the  churches 
of  the  Latins  in  the  Eafl ;  whereas  the  Greeks  were 

per* 


Clr 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  4/*! 

permitted  to  have  churches- and    mohafteries  in 
Rotne,   where  they  ufed  their  own  cuftoms  with-'' 
put  mole flai  ion. 

At  this  time,  however,   the  emperor   Conftan^' 
tine   Mtbriomachas,    wanting  the  affiftance  of  the" 
W  pftern  empire  to  oppofe  the  Normans  in  Italy/ 
wrot€  to  the  pope,    to  exprefs  his  concern  at  the 
d inference  that  fubiifted  between  the  two  churchefi'^j 
and  he  obliged  the  patriarch    Michael    to  write  to 
the  pope  to  the  farrie  purpofe.     This  was  towards' 
the  end  of  iht'  year  a.   d.    1053.      In  return,  the 
pope  knt  three  legates,   with  letters  to  the  empe- 
ror ana  to  the  patriarch.       To  the   former  he  ex- 
preiTed  his  fatisfaftion  in  his  overtures  for  peace 
and  concord,  he  gave  an  account  of  his  tranfadtions 
with  the  Normans,    and  expreffcd  his  willingnefs 
to  concur    with  the  emperor  in  reprefiing  them  ; 
but  he  complained   of  the  patriarch  Michael,    for 
anathematizing  thofe  who  adminiftered  the  eucha- 
rift  with  unleavened    bread,    and  for  his  attempts 
to  bring  into  fubjc£lion  to  himfelf  the  patriarchs  of 
Antioch  and  Alexandria ;    and  added  that,    if  he 
did  not  defiil  from  his  pretenfions,    he  could  have' 
no  peace  with  him.      In  his  letter  to  the  patriarch' 
he  complained  of  the  fame  things   in  Hill  ftronger 
terms.     The  legates  who  carried  thefe-  letters  were^ 
received  with  every  mark  of  honour ;    but   there 
was  too  m.uch  pride  on  both  fides  for  a  reconcilia- 
tion* E  e  5  Caiv 


4.42  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVII. 

Cardinal  Humbert,  who  was  the  chief  of  this 
embafly,  on  his  arrival  at  Conftantinople,  drew 
up  a  long  pnfwer  to  all  the  accufations  of  Michael 
againfl:  the  Latins.  On  the  fubjeft  of  eating 
.things  flrangled  and  blood,  he  denied  the  charge  ; 
faying  it  was  only  permitted  in  cafe  of  famine. 
At  the  fame  time  he  alfo  replied  to  fome things 
tl_it  had  been  written  by  Nicetas  a  monk,  on  the 
controverfy  between  the  two  churches ;  and  be- 
caufe  Nicetas  had  faid  that  communion  breaks  the: 
faft,  the  cardinal  concluded  that  in  his  opini- 
on the  euchariftical  elements  were  fubjed  to  the 
procefs  of  digeftion,  and  the  confequences  of  it, 
like  other  food  ;  and  for  holdmg  this  opinion, 
v/hich  to  him  appeared  fo  unworthy  of  a  Chriflian, 
he  called  him  a  SlercorariJL  In  this  treatife  the 
cardinal  alfo  reproached  the  Greeks  with  the  mar- 
riage of  their  prieOs,  and  on  this  account  he  calls 
them  Nicolaitans.  For  the  Greeks  allow  the  mar- 
riage of  a  prieft  to  a  virgin  before  their  confecra- 
tion.    MoJIieim,  Vol.  2.  p.  286. 

This  controverfy  was  not  calculated  to  anfwer, 
the  purpofe  of  the  emperor  ;  and  by  fome  means 
or  other  Nicetas  was  brought  to  retraft  every  thing 
that  he  had  written  againft  the  Latins,  in  the  pre- 
fence  of  the  legates  and  of  the  emperor,  and  even 
to  anathematize  thofe  who  denied  that  the  church 

of 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  u$ 

of  Rome  was  the  fii  ft  of  all  the  churches  :  and  af^ 
ter  this  they  received  the  communion  together. 

But  the  patriarch  proving  more  refradory,  Tq 
as  even  to  refufe  to  have  any  communication  with 
the  legates,  they  went  to  the  church  of  St.  Sophia, 
^nd  in  the  pre  fence  of  ihe  clergy  and  people  laid 
on  the  great  altar  a  writing  which  contained  a  formal 
excommu,  ication  of  him,  and  then,  going  out, 
fhook  otF  the  duft  from  their  feet.  After  this, 
jiaving  rcj^ulated  the  Latin  churches  in  Conftan- 
fjnople,  and  pronounced  an  anathema  againfi[ 
^hole  who  fhould  communicate  with  any  Greek 
who  cenfured  the  eucharifl;  of  the  Latins,  they 
took  leave  of  the  emperor  with  the  kifs  of  peace. 
The  aft  of  excommunication  contained  a  recital  of 
all  the  charges  of  the  Latins  againft  the  Greeks, 
and  among  them  they  particularly  mentioned  theiy 
faking  from  the  creed  the  \^oxA%  filioqut,  their  re- 
fufing  ba:,^tifm  to  children  who  died  before  th^ 
pighth  day,  and  the  communion  to  women  ii> 
child  bed. 

Michael,  not  intimidated,  but  greatly  pro- 
voked at  this  proceeding,  caufed  a  copy  of  the 
tvriting  which  contained  the  form  of  excommuni- 
cation to  be  publickly  burned  ;  and  aff.dling'not 
to  believe  that  the  legates  were  fent  by  the  pope,  he 
anathematized  all  thofe  who  had  advifed,  publifh- 
sd,  or  written,  the  excommunication,  and  all  their 

accom-  <T 


U4  THE  raSTORY  OF?     'PER;XVn. 

accomp'ices.  In  this  tivelve  raetropolitans  and 
two  ai'chbifhops  concurred  with  him.  The  origi- 
nal of  the  writing  was  not  burned  but  preferved, 
A«  the  patriarch  fdid,  for  jhe  perpefaal  condemnai 
ticn  of  thofe  who  had  uttered  fuch  blafphemies; 
and  this  anathema  of  his  was  ordered  to  be  read 
every  twenty-fourth  day  of  Jaly,  being  thed'y  on 
which  it  was  cu'Romary  to  read'  the  decrees  of  the 
five  general  councils. 

■^■-  Thu^  ended  the  intercourfe  between  the  twq 
churches,  without  producing'  anV  advantage  to 
either' of  them,  or  in  the  leall  degree  leading  to  a 
reconciliation.  In  a  correfpondence  which  Mi- 
chael had  Vnth  Peter  the  patriarch  of  Antioch  im- 
rriediately  after  this,  he  enumerated  every  article 
of  difference  between  the  two  churches,  magnifyi 
ing  their  importance ;  and  faying  that  what  was 
moll  intolerable  in  the  conduct  of  the  legates,  was 
th^ir  faying  they  did  not  come  to  Conftantinople 
to  be  inftru^ed,  but  to  inftruft,  and  make  us 
adopt  their  opinions.  At  all  times,  and  more 
efpecially  at  this  period,  the  Greeks  confidered  the 
Latins  as  little  better  than  barbarians  ;  fo  that  the 
pride  of  the  Greek  patriarch  could  not  but  have 
been  exceedingly  hurt  by  fuch  contemptuous  be- 
haviour of  thofe  whom  he  could  not  but  regard 
■with  contempt. 

Peter, 


Sec.  VI.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  Us 

Peter,  to  whom  Michael  addrefifed  himfelf  on 
this  occafion,  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  more 
good  fenfe  and  moderation,  and  he  endeavoured 
to  recommend  the  fame  pacific  principles  to  his 
correfpondent ;  freely  telling  him,  that  fome  of 
his  charges  were  aggravated,  and  others  mere  ca- 
lumnies, and  defiring  him  to  negle6l  all  the  reft, " 
and  only  lay  any  ftrefs  on  the  addition  the  Latins 
bad  made  to  the  creed.  The  queftion  about  leav- 
ened or  unleavened  bread  in  the  eucharift,  he  faid, 
was  of  little  confequence,  and  fhouldnot  be  infifted 
on,  left  the  breach  between  the  two  churches, 
from  which  innumerable  evils  had  flowed,  ftiould 
be  made  wider.  To  this  friendly  remonftrance 
Michael  made  no  particular  reply.  He  only  faid 
that  he  bad  thought  it  right  to  inform  him,  and  the 
other  patriarchs,  of  his  fituation,  that  they  might; 
better  know  how  to  conduct  themfelves,  if  they 
were  applied  to  on  the  fubjeft. 

In  Italy  every  thing  was  conduced  according 
to  the  will  of  the  popes.  At  a  council  at  Bari  a. 
D.  1098,  where  pope  Urban  was  prefent,  and  which 
was  attended  by  one  bundred  and  eighty-three 
bifhops,  among  whom  was  Anfelm,  then  in  a  ftatc 
of  exile  from  England,  the  queftion  concerning 
the  prcceffion  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  propofed  by 
the  Greeks,  and  openly  difcuffed,  they  maintain- 
ing that  it  was  from  the  Father  only.     But  the 

pop« 


>  t 


446  THE  HISTORY  OF      Fia.  XVil, 

pope  himfelf  replied  to  them,  making  ufe  of  ar^u- 
jnents  drawn  from  a  treatife  which  Anfelm  hadjuft 
pubhfhed  on  the  incarnation  ;  and  calHng  Anfelm 
himfelf  to  fit  near  him,  and  defiring  him  to  fpeak 
on  the  fubjeftj  he  comphed,  and  dehvered  him- 
felf, it  is  faid,  with  fo  much  force  and  perfpicuity, 
that  all  the  affembly  was  fatisfied,  and  pronounced 
an  anathema  againft  all  ihofe  who  denied  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  proceeded  from  the  Father  and  the 
Son,  and  not  from  the  Father  only.  But  this 
was  not  in  Greece. 


SECTION  VII. 

The  Htjlory  of  the  firjl  Crufade. 


W: 


ITHIN  this  period  of  my  hiflor^ 
we  have  the  commencement  ot  a  feries  of  military 
expeditions;,  of  vvhich  I  muft.  give  a  brief  relation, 
iince  they  were  undertaken  on  the  account  of  r<fi 
iigion,  fuch  asthen  chieflv  aftuated  the  Chriftiari 
world.  Befides,  they  were  in  their  own  nature 
very  extraordinary,  and  had  many  important  con- 
fequences.  The  crufades,  to  which  I  refer,  or 
expeditions  made  by  the  Chriftians  of  the  Weft, 
with  a  view  towrcfl  from  the  Mahometan  powers 
the  poff"^^!^^  o^  Jcrufalem  and  the  huiy  land  (td 

which^' 


S£c.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  m 

which,  as  a  favourite  pilgrimage,  there  had  long 
been  a  prodigious  refort)  appear  the  more  extra- 
ordinary, as,  at  this  time,  not  only  were  the  Eu- 
ropean kingdoms  in  general  in  a  ftate  of  war  with 
each  other,  but  even  the  particular  lords  in  a  flate 
of  almoft  conflant  hoftility ;  fo  that  it  was  not 
probable  thej'  would  trufl  one  another,  or  agree 
in  any  thing.  Yet  in  this  cafe,  as  if  they  had 
been  all  a£luated  by  one  foul,  they  at  once  over- 
looked all  their  differences,  and  united  as  one  maa 
in  a  feries  of  diftant  and  hazardous  expeditions. 
But  they  were  tauglit  to  confider  them  as  of  the 
Tnoft  meritorious  nature,  and  a  certain  road  to 
heaven,  whether,  with  refpedl  to  the  event,  they 
Ihould  be  fuccefsful  or  not.  Foolifh  and  ruinous 
in  the  extreme  as  thefe  expeditions  are  now  uni- 
verfally  confidered,  it  does  not  appear  that,  at 
that  time,  or  indeed  long  after,  any  perfon  ob- 
jefted  to  them;  and  the  habits  of  warfare,  in 
which  all  the  European  ftates  then  were,  fufEcient- 
ly  prepared  them  for  this  undertaking,  and  re- 
commended it  to  them. 

The  firfl  intimation  that  we  meet  with  of  any 
fcheme  of  this  kind  is  in  a  letter  of  Gregory  VII 
to  king  Henry  IV,  in  which  he  fays,  that  he  had 
been  applied  to  by  the  Chriflians  in  the  Eaft,  to 
relieve  them  from  the  oppreffion  under  which  they 
then  groaned,  that  he  had  endeavoured  to  excite  \\ 

air^ 


44^  THE  HISTORY  OF     Per.  1i\it 

all  Chriflians  to  give  their  lives  for  their  brethren, 
that  there  were  already  fifty  thoufand  ready  to 
march  if  they  could  have  him  to  lead  therh,  and 
that  he  was  determined  to  go  in  perfon,  even  to 
the  holy  fepulchre,  efpecially  as  the  Greek  church 
was  defirous  of  being  united  to  that  ot  Rome,  and 
as  almofl  all  the  Chriflians  in  the  Eafl  were  dif- 
pofed  to  receive  their  faith  from  it.  He  therefore 
aflced  the  king*s  advice  and  affillance.  For,  fays 
he,  if  I  make  this  voyage,  I  rnuft  leave  the  Roman 
church  to  your  care.  Having  received  an  embaify 
from  the  emperor  Michael,  he  fent  legates  in  re- 
turn in  A.  D.  1074  ;  and  wrote  to  all  the  Chrilliaa 
princes  in  the  Weft,  urging  them  to  march  to  the 
affiftance  of  their  brethren  in  the  Eaft.  Such  was 
the  fpirit  and  magnanimity  of  this  pontiff,  that, 
had  it  not  been  for  his  quarrel  with  Henry,  he 
would,  no  doubt,  have  undertaken,  and  have  gone 
thro'  with,  this  expedition. 

At  this  time  the  emperors  of  the  Eaft  being 
much  reduced,  both  by  foreign  enemies,  and  in- 
ternal diffentions,  they  were  very  defirous  of  getting; 
affiftance  from  the  Weft  ;  and  every  attempt  that 
they  had  made  for  an  union  of  the  two  churches 
-.had  never  had  any  other  objeft.  At  the  council 
of  Placentia  in  a.  d.  1694,  the  emperor  Alexis 
Conitienus  fent  embaffadors  to  pope  Urban, 
learneftly  begging  his  affiftance,    and   that  of  all 

Chriftians 


SVc.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  44# 

Chriftians  againfl:  the  infide's,    and  in   defence  of 
the  church,  which  was  almofl  deftroyed  in  the  Eall. 
For  the  Mahometans  were  advanced  almoft  to  thd 
very  walls  of  Conftantinopie.      The  pope  did  not 
fail  to  fecond  this  application,     fo  that  many  per- 
fon§   then  took  an  oath  to  undertake  the  expedi- 
tion, and  aid  the  emperor  according  to  their  power, 
Cut  the  immediate  occafion  of  the  crufade  was 
a  report   of  the  flate   ot   ChriRianity  in  the    Eaft 
Brought  by  a  hermit  of  the  name  of  Peter,     of  ihe 
diocefe  of  Amiens,     a  man  diflinguiQied   by   his 
auflerity,  who  always  travelled  barefoot,  or  mount- 
ed on  an  afs.      From  a  principle  bfdevo'ion  he  had 
made  a  pilgrimage  to  vifit  our  Saviour's  fepu'chre 
at  Jerufalem,     where  he  was  much  afFefted  to  fee 
the  condition  in  which  he  found  he  holy  place  there, 
Imder  the  dominion  of  the  Mahometans,     the   fi- 
tuation  of  the  temple  occupied  by  a  mofque,    and 
ilables  adjoining  to   the   church    ol   the  holy  fe- 
pu!chre. 

Converfmg  on  the  fubjeH  with  Simeon  the 
Chridian  patriarch,  he  aflced  him  iftherewasno 
remedy  for  thofe  evils.  The  patriarch  replied, 
that  they  had  no  expeftation  ot  any  affidancefrom 
the  Greeks,  who,  tho'  rich,  were  not  able  to  defend 
them ;  but  that  there  might  be  fome  hope  if  the 
Chriftians  in  the  Weft,  who  were  more  powerful, 
irould  intereft  themfelves  in  their  fa\^r.  To  this 
Vol.  III.  F  f  .         Peter 


450  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVII^ 

Peter  replied,  that  if  he  and  his  brethren  would 
give  him  letters  to  the  pope,  and  the  Chriftian 
princes,  informing  them  ot  the  true  ftate  of  things 
and  requefting  their  help,  he  would  not  only  de- 
liver them,  but  would  fpare  no  pains  to  folicit  fuc- 
cours  for  them  ;  and  to  this  they  readily  acceded. 

With  thefe  letters  Peter  waited  on  the  pope, 
and  with  his  own  hands  he  delivered  the  letters  ad- 
dreffed  to  the  princes  of  Europe,  and  he  urged 
not  only  them,  but  all  perfons  wherever  he  went, 
to  comply  with  their  contents.  And  fuch  was  his 
zeal  and  eloquence  that  by  the  time  which  the 
pope  had  fixed  for  a  council  to  meet  at  Clermont 
in  A.  13.  1095,  ^^^  fubje6l  had  become  generally 
interefling,  and  the  minds  of  men  were  well  pre- 
pared to  receive  any  propofal  relating  to  it. 

When  all  bufinefs  of  an  ecclefiaftical  nature 
was  fettled  at  this  council,  the  pope  addreffed  the 
numerous  affembly  of  bilhops  and  princes  on  this 
fubjeft  ;  informing  them  of  the  miferable  flate  of 
Chriftianity  in  the  Eaft,  and  efpecially  the  dangers 
to  which  pilgrims  were  expofed  in  vifiting  the  holy 
places  at  Jerufalem,  exhorting  them  to  turn  their 
arms  from  one  another  againft  the  common  enemy 
of  the  Chriftian  name,  and  by  this  means  make  fa- 
tisfaflion  to  God  for  their  many  murders,  ravages, 
and  other  crimes;  promifing  a  full  remifTion  of  all 
their  fins,    to  thofe  who  would  take  arms  in  this 

caufe, 


'&r.c.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         4sl 

Cf^ufe,  and  aflunng  them  that  all  their  p^flelTiona 
would  be  under  the  proteftion  of  the  church ;  for 
that,  if  any  perfon  fhould  diflurb  them  in  their  ab- 
fence  on  this  expedition,  they  fhould  be  excom- 
municated till  ample  fatisfad.on  was  made  ;  and 
that  the  bifhops  and  pricfts  who  did  not  join  iq, 
this  (liould  be  fufpended  from  heir  functions. 

Remigius,  a  monk  of  Rheims,  who  was  pre^ 
fent,  fays  that  when  the  pope  had  done  fpeaking^ 
3ll  the  affembly  were  fo  moved  that,  with  one 
voice,  they  cried  Dicu  le  volt  [God  wills  it)  Silence 
being  obtimcd,  the  pope  rofe  again,  and  faid  that 
this  unanimity  in  their  cry  muft  have  arifen  from 
infpiration,  and  was  a  fure  omen  of  their  fuccefs, 
Thofe  words  he  faid  fhould  be  thofe  with  which 
they  fhould  rufh  to  battle.  He  then  faid  that  thofe 
who  went  on  the  expedition  fhould  diftinguifli 
themfelves  by  Wearing  a  crofs  on  their  garments, 
and  that  thofe  who  were  not  able  to  go  in  per- 
fon, fhould  afTift  by  their  money,  and  other  means. 

When  they  had  received  abfolution,  and  the 
benedidion  of  the  pope,  they  chofe  Adhemar 
bifhop  of  Puy,  a  man  well  informed  in  both  ec^ 
clefiailical  and  civil  affairs,  for  a  leader ;  and  when, 
after  fome  difficulty,  he  accepted  the  command, 
the  pope  gave  him  the  powers  of  his  legate.  But 
foon  after  this  they  were  informed  that  Raymond 
count  of  Thouloufe  had  taken  the  crofs,  and  vvould 

F  f  a  ao 


4S2  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVIL- 

go  on  the  expedition,  with  many  knights  ;  fo  that 
the  crufade  had  two  leaders,  an  ecclefiaflic  and  a 
layman.  To  encourage  them,  the  pope  again  de- 
clared that,  they  who  took  the  crofs  on  that  occa- 
fion  fhould  be  excufed  from  all  other  kinds  of  pe- 
nance, in  confideration  of  the  danger  of  fighting, 
to  which  they  would  be  expofed  ;  and  he  ordered 
all  the  bifhops  to  preach  the  crufade  in  their  re- 
fpe6live  diocefes. 

In  his  future  progrefs  thro'  France,  the  pope 
liimfelf  every  where  recommended  the  crufade  ; 
and  then  he  appointed  the  feftival  of  the  alTumption 
of  the  virgin  in  that  year  for  tlie  time  of  fetting  out. 
Accordingly,  on  that  day  the  crufaders  began  their 
march.  The  principal  of  them  were  Hugh,  brother 
of  the  king  of  France,  and  count  of  Vermandois, 
Robert  duke  of  Normandy,  brother  of  the  king  of 
England,  Stephen  count  of  Blois,  Raimond  count 
of  Thouloufe,  Godfrey  duke  of  Lorrain,  with  his- 
brothers  Baldwin  and  Euftace,  and  Baldwin  de 
Bourgh,  their  coufm.  There  were  many  lords  of 
a  leffer  rank,  and  an  infinity  of  the  lower  nobleffe. 
There  were  alfo  bifhops,  and  at  the  head  of  them- 
Adhemar  the  legate  of  the  crufade,  William  bifhqp 
of  Orange,  many  abbots  and  monks,  and  even 
fome  reclufes,  who  on  this  great  occafion  quitted 
their  cells.  Many  of  the  common  people,  and 
even  vvora&n  and  children,    came  from   all   parts, 

proi 


i 


Sec.  VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         453 

promifing  to  obey,  and  ferve  the  crufaders  on  the 
expedition. 

A  great  adv^mtage  accrued  ultimately  to  thj? 
community  at  large  from  many  of  the  great  land- 
holders on  this  occafion  felling  their  lands,  and 
often  at  low  prices,  in  order  to  equip  themfelves 
for  this  expedition.  However,  they  chcarfully 
fold  their  polTeflions,  and  abandoned  their  wives 
and  families,  with  every  thin,^  elfe  that  was  dear 
to  them.  Public  robbers  coulclled  their  crimes, 
with  a  view  to  make  atonement  for  them  in  this 
holy  war;  fome  debtors  went  to  avoid  their  cre- 
ditors ;  fome  were,  no  doubt,  induced  to  go  from 
a  principle  of  honour,  and  fome  were  afhamed  to 
ftay  behind ;  and  many  wopen  went  irj  the  habit 
of  men. 

The  lirfl  that  fet  out  was  Gautier,  furnamed 
from  his  poverty  Sans  av<.ir,  on  the  8th  of  March 
A.  D.  iog6,  at  the  head  of  a  great  multitude  on 
f<^ot.  Palling  thro'  Germany  and  Hungary,  they 
came  to  Conllantinople,  followed  by  Peter  the 
Hermit,  with  about  forty  thoufand  men  from  dif- 
ferent nations.  Many  other  companies  fet  out  the 
fame  fummer.  Peter  was  followed  by  a  Germaa 
prieft  of  the  name  of  Godefchalck,  with  fifteea 
thoufand  men ;  but  fo  ill  difciplined,  that  they 
got  no  farther  than  Hungary,  where  they  were  all 
cut  to  pieces.       Soon  after  followed  another  com- 

It 

F  f  3  pany 


I 

454  THE  HISTORY  Ot       PER.XVa, 

pany  on  foot,  of  about  two  hundred  thoufand, 
without  any  chief,  and  without  difcipHne.  Thele 
fell  upon,  and  without  mercy  mafTacred,  the  Jews 
whereever  they  came,  efpecially  at  Cologne  and 
Mentz.  Many  Jews  on  this  occafion  killed  them;- 
feives,  and  forae  fubmitted  to  be  baptized  in  order 
to  fave  their  lives. 

Robert  duke  of  Normandy,  and  Stephen  count 
of  Blois,    went  by  way  of  Rome,     where  they  re- 
ceived the  pope's  benediftion.   Many  of  this  com- 
pany went   no  farther  than  Rome ;     others   went 
to  Bari,  intending  to  take  fhipping  there  ;  but  the 
feafon   being    unfavourable  they  were  not  able  to 
do  it,   and  the  duke  of  Normandy  pafTcd  the  win- 
ter in  Calabria  with  his  countrymen.       However, 
the  count  of  Flanders  with  his  company  did  crots 
the  lea.       Robert  and  Stephen  embarked  at  Biin- 
diCi  the  fifth  of  April,    which  was  Eafterday  a.  d. 
1097.       Boemoqd  was  befieging  a  caPdc  in  Cam- 
pania, together  with  cpunt  Roger  his  uncle,  when 
he  heard  of  the  crufade.       On  this  he  took  a  piece 
of  red  cloth,    and  cutting  it  into  fmall  pieces,     he 
diflributed  it  in  the  form  of  erodes  to  his  followers, 
who  all  inflanrly  cried  out  God  wills  it,  God  wills 
^t,  as  at  Clermont. 

The  pope  wrote  to  the  emperor  Alexis  to  in- 
form him  of  the  refolution  that  had  been  taken  at 
CkiTOPftf,    that  the  crufaders  in  all  amounted  to 

thrca 


&EC.  Vri.   THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         455 

three  hundred  thoufand  men,  and  that  Boemond 
led  feven  thoufand  of  approved  valour,  defirjng 
him  to  provide  for  their  fubfiftence.  But  the  em- 
peror was  alarmed  at  fuch  an  inundation  of  Bar- 
barians, as  the  Greeks  always  confidered  the 
Wcllcrn  nations  to  be  ;  and  he  was  more  efpecially 
afraid  of  Boemond,  whofe  valour  he  knew  by  ex- 
perience. He  therefore  treated  them  with  every 
outward  maric  of  honour  and  refpe6t,  but  pri- 
vately gave  them  as  much  obflrudlion  as  he  could. 
This  conduft  p^iving  the  Latins  jull  caufe  of  fuf- 
fpicion,  thofe  who  were  encamped  near  Conftan- 
^tinople  demoliihed  the  houfes  in  the  country,  and 
even  flripped  the  churches  of  their  lead,  in  order 
to  fell  it  to  the  Greeks.  This  made  the  emperor 
expedite  their  palling  the  Hellefpont.  But  they 
behaved  no  better  in  Alia,  where  they  plundered^ 
and  burned,  both  houfes  and  churches. 

Being  landed  on  the  Ihore  of  Alia,  feveral  qf 
the  chiefs  held  a  confultation  about  their  future 
progrefs,  and  in  confequence  of  it,  they  laid  fiege 
to  Nice  the  14th  of  May  a.  d.  1097.  Here  they 
reviewed  their  troops,  and  found  them  to  be  one 
hundred  thoufand  armed  knights,  and,  including 
the  foot  foldiers  and  the  women,  they  were  fix 
hundred  thoufand.  ,  Nice,  which  was  then  in  the 
power  of  Soliman,  a  Turk  of  the  Seljukian  race, 
Surrendered  by  capitulation  on  the  20th   of  June, 

F  f  4  ani 


44'S  THE  IIISTOrvY  OF       Per.  XV1I» 

and  was  given  to  Alexis,  to  the  great  difTati^fadion 
of  the  army,  who  expe£led  to  plunder  it.  By 
the  treaty  they  had  made  with  the  emperor,  ihey 
were  to  cede  to  him  all  ths  places  they  ihould  con- 
quer from  the  infidels,  and  he  was  to  farnifh  then^ 
with  proviiion'5.  Bat  as  he  had  not  performed  his 
part  of  the  agreement,  they  thought  thcmfelves 
difcharged  from  performing  theirs  ;  and  therefori?; 
jn  all  the  p'aces  which  they  took  afterwards  they 
put  garrifons  of  their  own. 

They  had  taken  Tarfus  and  the  refl  of  CiliCia 
when  Baldwin  brother  of  duke  Godfrey  left  the 
grand  army,  and  going  to  the  North,  condutied 
by  a  noble  Armenian,  he  proceeded  as  iar  as  the 
Euphrates.  The  country,  being  full  of  Chriflians, 
Tsadily  fubmitted  to  him,  and  having  taken  EdeiTa, 
he  was  crowned  prince  of  it,  and  there  founded  a 
powerful  ftate. 

The  grand  army  having  pafTcd  thro'  S)  ria, 
laid  fiege  to  Antioch  on  the  21  ft  of  06lober  a.  d. 
J097.  It  was  then  a  large  city,  inhabited  chiefly 
hy  Chriflians,  tho'  it  had  been  in  the  poUefiion  of 
the  Turks  fourteen  years.  After  a  fiege  of  fcven 
monihs  it  was  taken  by  treachery  on  the  3d  of 
June  A.  D.  1098;  but  the  Turks  keeping  poflef- 
fion  of  the  callle,  and  an  immepfe  army  coming 
to  its  relief,  the  Chrifli^ins  were  befieged  in  the 
pity,  and  reduced  to  fuch  diilrefs  that  they  fed  on 

their 


§EC.VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         45^ 

their  horfes  and  camels.  In  this  ftate  they  con- 
(:in'..ied  twenty- fix  days,  and  in  all  probability 
would  have  been  all  cut  off,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
pretenrled  difcovery  of  the  lance  with  which  our 
Saviour's  fide  was  pierced.  Having  got  poiTeffioii 
of  this,  they  bid  adieu  to  defpair,  and  took  au 
oath  that,  if  God  would  deliver  them  from  this 
danger,  they  would  never  feparate  till  they  had 
taken  Jeruflilem,  anddehvered  the  holy  fepulchre. 
After  this  they  marched  out,  and  defeating  the 
enemy,  took  their  camp,  in  v/hich  they  found  au 
immenfe  booty.  This  was  the  28th  of  June  a. 
D.  1098.  Boemond  remained  at  the  place  witl^ 
the  title  of  prince. 

Immediately  after  the  redudion  of  Anticch  ^ 
pontagious  diforder  carried  off  many  of  the  cm- 
faders,  and  am.ong  them  Adhemar  the  pope's  le-? 
gate,  who  was  exceedingly  regretted.  They  then 
wrote  to  the  pope,  to  give  him  an  account  of  their 
proceedings,  and  to  requeft  that  he  would  come 
in  perfon  to  head  them,  in  the  city  in  which  the 
Chrillians  firft  acquired  their  name,  and  in  which 
the  apoftle  Peter  had  his  firft  fee.  The  pope, 
however,  contented  himfelf  with  fending  them 
another  legate,   Daimbert  archbifliop  of  Pifa. 

While  they  remained  here  there  arofe  a  difputc 

about  the  reality  of  the   Jance  that   had  been  dif- 

povered;  when  Peter  Baithelemi,   who  pretended 


J 


458  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVII. 

to  have  had  a  revelation  which  led  to  it,  demanded 
the  proof  of  the  fire  ordeal.  Accordingly  a  fire 
being  lighted,  he  took  the  Ianc€,  and  boldly  ad- 
vanced thro'  it,  feemingly  fafe  and  found ;  but,  as 
he  died  a  few  days  after,  the  queftion  remained  un- 
decided. 

An:er  the  taking  of  Antioch,  the  crufaders  made 
fome  other  conquefts,  and  marching  towards  Je- 
rufalem,   they  arrived  there  on  the  7th  of  July  a. 

D.  1099 '  ^"^  ^^°*  ^^^y  ^'^^^^  ^^^"  ^^^y  ^^^^^y 

thoufand  foot,  and  fifteen  hundred  horfe,  and  the 
city  was  garrifoned  by  forty  thoufand  men,  turnifli- 
ed  with  every  thing  necefTary,  they  took  it  on  the 
15th  of  July  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
which  was  noticed  as  being  the  day  and  the  hour 
of  the  death  of  Chrifl:.  Godfrey  was  the  firft  to 
enter  the  city,  together  with  his  brother  Euftace, 
hy  getting  upon  the  wall,  from  a  tower  which  they 
had  brought  near  it.  Prefently  after  the  count  of 
Thoulouf^  entered  at  another  place,  and  then  the 
whole  army,  making  a  dreadful  (laughter  of  the 
jnfidels,  of  whom  they  killed  about  ten  thoufand 
in  the  mofque  which  was  fituated  on  the  ruins  of 
the  temple,  and  as  many  in  other  places. 

Being  now  in  poflfeffion  of  the  place,  the  great 
objeft  of  the  expedition,  they  bathed  themfelves, 
and  marched  barefoot,  groaning  and  (bedding  ma- 
^y  tears,    till  they  came  to  the  holy   fepulchre, 

wheie 


gEC.VII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         459 

where  they  were  met  by  the  Chriftians  in  the  plac« 
fiDcring  hymns.  It  was  a  wonderful  fpeftacle, 
lay  thoie  who  were  prefent,  to  fee  with  what  devo- 
tion thecrufaders  vifitcd  ihe  holy  places,  fome  on 
their  bare  knees,  and  all  of  them  endeavouring  to 
exceed  the  reft  in  what  was  confidered.  as  an  a6l  of 
religion.  The  bifliops  and  priefts  then  performed 
mafs  in  the  church,  praying  for  the  people,  and 
giving  thanks  to  God  lor  fuch  great  fuccefs.  The 
day  of  this  conqueft  was  then  ordered  to  be  ce- 
lebrated by  a  folemn  feftival  every  year. 

Eight  days  after  this  Godfrey  was  chofen  king 
of  Jerufalem,  and  being,  on  this  Qccafion,  offered 
a  crown  of  gold,  he  replied,  that  he  could  not 
wear  a  crown  of  gold  in  that  city  in  which  the  king 
of  kings  had  been  crowned  with  thorns.  MoJJieim, 
Vol.  2.  p.  237.  After  fome  difpute,  Daimbert 
the  legate  was  chofen  patriarch,  the  former  pa- 
triarch Simeon  being  then  in  Cyprus,  and  ignorant 
of  all  that  had  paffed.  From  Daimbert  Godfrey 
received  the  inveftiture  of  the  kingdom  of  Jerufa- 
lem, as  Bocmond  did  that  of  Antioch.  After  the 
return  of  the  grealer  part  of  the  crufaders,  who  had 
now  accomplifhed  their  vows,  Godfrey  and  Tan- 
cred,  who  remained  with  him,  had  no  more  than 
three  hundred  horfe,  and  two  thouland  foot.  The 
cities  fubjeft  to  them  were  very  f.  w,  and  fepaialed 
frorq  Qae  i^nother  by  places  in  the  polTe/rion  of  the 

Mahow 


^eo  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVII. 

Mahometans,  who  killed,  or  made  flaves  of,  them 
whenever  they  took  any  of  them.  They  alfp 
abandoned  the  cultivation  of  the  ground  ;  not  car- 
ing if  they  ftarved  themfelves,  provided  they  could 
famifli  the  Chriftians.  The  Fianks  were  no  where 
fafe  except  in  cities,  very  well  fortified,  being 
liable  to  be  plundered  in  the  night,  and  murdered 
even  in  their  houfes.  Such  was  the  beginning  of 
the  kingdom  of  Jerufalem,  which,  however,  fub- 
fiiled  eighty-eight  years. 


SECTION   VIII. 


Articks  r dating    to   the  public  V^us,    and  Dif- 

ciplinc. 


HE  articles  under  this  title  thai  oc- 
cur In  the  courfe  of  the  prefent  period  are  not  of 
much  importance,  but  they  are  fufficiently  numer- 
ous to  require  a  ieftion  far  themfelves. 

We  have  feen  in  a  former  period  the  defire  of 
fome  popes  to  forbid  the  ufe  of  the  living  languages 
in  the  oflices  of  public  worlbip,  and  we  find  the 
fame  in  this.  Pope  John  XII,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  Bohemians  from  ufing  the  Greek  ritual, 
as  the  Bulgarians  and  Ruffians  did,  charged  the 
prince  not  to  ufe  the  Sclavonic   tongue  in  diving 

fervice. 


^gc.VIII.THECHRISTIAN  CHURCH^  46t 

fervice,  but  the  Latin,  which  accordingly  he  did. 
Alfo  Gregory  VII  abfolutely  refufed  Wratisflas 
kingr  of  Bohemia  the  ufe  of  that  language,  for  the 
fame  purpofe,  tho'  the  people  had  requelled  it ; 
faying  it  was  the  will  of  God  that  feme  things- 
fhould  remain  in  obfcurity,  left  they  fhould  be 
defpifed  by  the  common  people;  that  antient 
cuftom  was  no  excufe,  fince  the  primitive  church 
had  diflembled  many  things,  which  were  corrected 
afterwards,  when  religion  was  more  confirmed, 
and  extended.  •*  Wherefore,"  fays  he,  *'  we  com- 
'-  mand  you  by  the  authority  of  St.  Peter,  to  opj 
"  pofe  with  all  your  might  the  imprudent  requefl 
*'  of  your  fubjefts." 

This  pope  (liewed  the  fame  zeal  for  the  intro- 
duftion  of  the  Roman  ritual  into  Spain.  This  had 
been  done  partially  before,  in  a  former  period* 
And  it  had  been  agreed  on  at  a  council  held  at 
Yacca  in  a.  d.  io6o.  In  a.  d.  1080  it  was  re- 
ceived by  Sancho,  the  firft  king  of  Arragon,  and 
after  fome  threatening  on  the  part  of  Gregory  VII, 
it  was  alfo  received  by*  Alphonfus  IV  king  of  Leon 
and  Caftile.  This,  however,  the  king  was  not' 
able  to  accomplifh without  difficulty,  on  account 
of  the  oppofition  that  was  made  to  it  by  the  cler^ 
gy,  and  even  the  nobility  and  common  people* 
After  fome  difpute  on  the  fubjeft,  it  was  agreed 
©0  decide  the  bu fluffs    by    appointing  champions 

tor 


40»  THE  HISTORY  OF       Per.  XVIJ; 

to  fight  for  the  two  rituals.  Tho'  the  king's  cham^ 
pion  was  defeated,  his  queen  would  not  allow  him 
to  give  up  the  point  till  they  tried  the  ordeal  of 
fire ;  when,  it  is  faid,  both  the  miffals  being 
thrown  into  the  fame  fire,  that  of  Spain,  or  the 
Mofarabic,  was  not  injured,  but  the  Roman 
was  confumed.  Still,  the  king  would  not  yield, 
but  ordered  the  Roman  ritual  to  be  ufed  in 
his  dominions.  Many  churches,  however,  re- 
tained their  former  offices.  This  is  the  ftory  re- 
lated by  Rodriguez  archbifhop  of  Toledo,  bufc 
who  lived  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  after  the 
event. 

The  Roman  ritual  was  liot,  in  all  refpeO^ 
the  fame  that  was  ufed  in  other  churches  ;  as 
the  creed  was  not  recited  in  divine  fervice. 
When  the  emperor  Henry  II  was  crowned  at 
Rome,  1  e  alked  the  reafon  of  this,  and  was  anf- 
wered,  that  as  there  had  not  been  any  herefy  afc 
Rome,  there  was  no  occafion  for  it.  At  the  re- 
queft  of  the  emperor,  it  was  recited  at  a  folenin: 
tnafs. 

A  new  feftival,     that   of  all  the  faithful  dead 

from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  end  of  it,  was' 

introduced    in  this  period,    by    Odilon    abbot  oi 

Clugny.     It  foonpaffed  into  other  churches,  and 

afterwards  into  all  Catholic  churches* 

It 


$Ec.  VIII.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.        4S3 

It  appears  by  the  offering  of  king  Robert  to' 
the  church  of  St.  Agnes  in  Orleans  in  a.  d.  1029-^ 
that  the  dedication  of  bells  was  then  called  hap^ 
tifm,  and  that  oil  and  chrifm  were  ufed  on  the 
occafion.  In  a.  d.  968  John  XIII  confecrated 
the  great  bell  of  the  Lateran  church  at  Romcv 
Bingham,  Vol.  i.  p.  316. 

It  was  about  the  end  of  the  eleventh,  or  th^ 
beginning  of  the  twelfth  century,  th^Ltfmall  wafers/ 
wez'e  ufed  in  the  adminiftration  of  the  Lord's  fup- 
per.  It  was  a  curious  conceit  of  Durandus  to 
fay,  that  they  ought  to  be  made  in  the  form  o£ 
denarii,  becaufe  Chrift  was  fold  for  thirty  ofthofd 
pieces  of  filver.  Pi^et,  a,  d.  1054.  At  this  time 
all  communion  was  in  both  kinds. 

In  the  tenth  century  the  Gonfecration  of  the? 
elements    began   to  be  made    with    a  low  voice.  { 
Bingham,  Vol.  1.  p.  ySj. 

It  appears  by  the  writings  of  Fulbert,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  eleventh  century,  that  it  was  the 
cuftom  for  priefts,  at  their  ordination,  to  receive 
from  the  biibop  one  hoft,  of  which  they  took  a 
part  every  day,  fo  as  to  confume  the  whole  in  for- 
ty days,  in  imitation  of  our  Saviour's  appearing' 
to  his  difciples  forty  days  after  his  refurreftion.  In 
fome  churches  a  hofl  ferved  them  feven  days. 


The 


4M  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVll,' 

The  difcipline    of  penance  was  a   great  article 
in  the  religion  of  thofe  times,  and  a  fource  of  great 
gain  to  the  priefls.       In  this  period  we  firfl  read  of 
the  commutation  of  penance.      Ey  a  law  of  king 
Edgar,  in  the  time  of  Dun  flan,    a  fafl  of  one   day 
^'■as  valued  at  a   denier  (penny)    which  was  fuffi- 
cient  for  the  maintenance  of  one  man.       A  day  of 
fafling  might  alfo  be  redeemed *by   the  recital    of 
two  hundred  and  twenty  pfalms,  or  fix  genuflexi- 
ons, and  one  hundred  and  fixty    paternoflers,  that 
is,    the  recital  of   the    Lords  prayer.      One  mafgf 
was  equivalent  to   twelve  days  of  fafling.     A  rich 
man  might  relieve   himfelf  by  making  other  per- 
fons   faR   for  him,     fo  as  to  accomplifh   in  three 
days  a  fafi  of feven  years  ;  but  then,    beiides  this, 
he   was  prefcribed   many   painful    exercifes,    and 
preat  alms.       It  was  the  cuflom  alfo  to  commute 
penances  for  fums   of  money,     and  land  given   to 
the  church,  which  was   a  great  means  of  enriching 
it. 

Burchard  bifhop  of  Worms  compofed  a  book 
of  canons  to  dire6l  the  impofition  of  penance,  and 
the  compenfation  for  it.  According  to  his  rules,  a: 
perfon  who  could  not  fafl  for  one  day  with  bread 
and  water  was  to  fing  fi'ty  pfalms  on  his  knees  in 
the  church,  and  maintain  a  poor  man  th.it  day, 
Tvhen  he  mJght  take  any  nourifliment,  except  win?, 
flefli,    or   fat.       An  hundred    genuflexions    were 

equi* 


Bfefc.VIII.THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH*        46S 

equivalent  to  fifty  pfalms,  and  tliericlfi  might  re- 
deem that  with  money.  But  thefe  redemptions 
were  allowed  only  when  the  penance  could  not  be 
complied  with.  Some  time  before  this  penances 
performed  by  others  were  condemned  at  anational 
council  in  England  in  a.  d.  74*7,  becaufe  it  was 
faid,  that  if  they  were  admitted,  falvatiqn  would 
be  more  eafy  to  the  rich  than  to  the  poor,  contra- 
ry  to  the  exprefs  declaration  of  the  gofpel. 

There  are,  fays  Fleury,  no  inftances  of  vo- 
luntary flagellation  before  the  eleventh  century. 
This  flagellation  in  public  was  oppofed  by  Stephen, 
who  had  been  a  monk  of  Mount  Caffin  ;  but  he 
dying  fuddenly  afterwards,  P.  Damiani  the  great 
advocate  lor  this  praftice,  faid  it  might  be  a  pu- 
nifhment  for  that  offence ;  tho'  in  other  refpeflts 
he  was  a  worthy  man. 

Thefe  articles  relating  to  penance  naturally 
lead  to  the  mention  of  various  other  fuperfti^ 
tious  praftices,  and  the  opinions  on  which  thev 
were  founded. 

The  invention  of  the  rofary,  confifting  of  a 
numbe.-  of  beads  on  a  firing,  is  afcribed  to  this  pe- 
iiod,  in  order  to  keep  an  account  of  the  number  of 
prayers,  and  jfalutations  of  the  virgin  which  perfons 
were  to  repeat.  A  compleat  rofary  conlilled  of 
fifteen  repetitions  of  the  Lord's  prayer  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  falutations  of  the  virgin;  and 
yoL,  III.  G|  what 


4.(^6  THE  HISTORY  OF        Per.  XVII. 

what  was  called  M^  crown  confifled  of  fix  or  feven 
repetitions  of  the  Lord's  prayer  and  ten  times  as 
many  falutations.  MoJJieim,  Vol.  2.  p.  224. 

Ratherius,  bifhop  of  Verdun,  fpeaks  of  fome 
perfons  who  attended  mafs  on  mondays,  in  pre- 
ference to  other  days,  becaufe  on  that^day  the  an- 
gel Michael  celebrated  mafs  before  God.  Da- 
miani  mentions  it  as  the  pious  opinion  of  many 
eminent  perfons,  that  the  loiils  of  the  dead  do  not 
fufFer  on  fundays,  and  that  on  this  account  they 
laid  mafs  in  honour  of  the  angels,  to  engage  their 
protection  of  the  dead,  and  thofe  who  were  to  die, 

Robert  king  of  France,  to  prevent  the  guilt? 
of  perjury,  which  was  then  very  common,  made 
the  lords  fwear  on  a  chriftal  reliquiare,  ornamented 
with  gold,  but  without  any  relics  in  it;  and  an- 
other of  filver,  in  which  was  the  egg  of  a  griffon ; 
as  if  the  validity  of  the  oath,  fays  Fleury,  de- 
pended upon  the  relicks  on  which  it  was  then  the 
cuflom  to  fwear. 

At  the  council  of  Airy  in  a.  d.  1020  it  began 
to  be  the  cuflom  to  take  relicks  to  councils,  iti 
order  to  add  to  their  folemnity  and  obligation. 
Fidiet. 

As  an  inftance  of  the  moli  elaborate  fuperftf- 
tion  that  I  have  met  with  in  this  period,  I  fhall 
mention  the  manner  iii  which  the  wafers  for  com- 
munion were  prepared  at  the  monaftery  of  Clug- 

ny. 


Sfet.  VIIL  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCtt.        467 


>5rt 


jny.  They  took  the  beft  corn,  which  tliey  chofe 
grain  by  grain.  They  then  wafbed  it  carefully, 
and  put  it  into  a  fack,  which  was  kept  for  the 
purpofe.  A  fervitor  of  approved  purity  carried 
it  to  the  mill,  every  thing  belonging  to  which 
was  wafhed.  He  then  put  on  a  garment  called 
the  albe^  and  an  amiB,  which  covered  his  head 
and  face  to  the  eyes.  In  this  manner  he  ground 
the  cornj  and  fifted  the  flour.  Two  priefts  and . 
two  deacons,  clothed  in  the  fame  manner,  kneaded 
the  dough  in  cold  water,  that  it  might  be  more 
Vvhite,  and  they  formed  the  wafers  ;  a  novice  held 
the  marked  iron  on  which  they  were  baked,  and 
they  fung  pfalms  during  this  labour,  which  was 
always  performed  before  dinner. 

That  fuperflition  takes  the  place  of  moral  vir- 
tue, we  fee  exemplified  every  day ;  but  that  it 
Ihould  lead  to  the  commiffion  of  aftual  crimes,  is 
not  fo  common.  Yet  in  this  period  the  Celtibe-* 
rians,  fearing  that  St.  Romuald,  a  famous  hermit^ 
Would  leave  theii*  country,  after  having  in  vain  en- 
deavoured to  detain  him  with  them,  formed  a  de- 
Cgn  to  murder  him,  that  at  leaft  they  might  have 
his  relicks,  for  the  proteftion  of  their  country. 

Superftition,  however,  was  often  a  great  and 
fuccefsful  excitement  to  valour  in  battle,-  and  the 
Normans  after  they  embraced  Chriftianity,  were 
particularly  diftinguilhed  for  it.  Robert  Guifcard 

G  g  2  paffed 


t     *■* 


4t3  THE  HISTORY  OF     Per.  XVII. 

pafifed  the  night  before  a  battle  which  he  fought  in 
Epirus,  wii.h  all  his  army,  in  the  church  of  the 
martyr  Theodore,  where  they  received  the  com- 
munion. In  a  limilar  manner  did  William  the 
Conqueror  prepare  hfs  army  before  the  battle  of 
Haftings,  by  which  he  gained  the  crown  of  Eng-« 
land. 

It  is,  however,  to  the  credit  of  this  period^ 
that  in  it  Agobard  wrote  a  treatife  againft  the  or- 
deal, and  other  kinds  of  fuperllition  which  pre- 
vailed in  his  time.  Fi^et,   a.  d,  1002. 


SECTION  IX. 

Mifcellaneous   Articles, 


I 


N  this  period  we  fee  more  of  the  dawn- 
ing of  arts  and  fciences,  and  of  literature  in  gene- 
ral, than  could  well  have  been  expefted  from  the 
complexion  of  it  in  other  refpe6ls. 

I.  In  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh  century 
Guido,  a  monk  of  Arezzo,  invented  theufe  of  notes 
in  mufic,  by  means  of  which  it  was  faid  that  a 
child  might  learn  in  a  few  months  what  a  man  had 
not  been  able  to  learn  in  feveral  years,  which  was 
of  great  confequence  with  refpeft  to  church  mufic. 
The  author  of  this  ingenious  art,  writing  concern-* 


SbC.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.  46ff 

ing  it  to  a  moiik  ofPompofia,  who  had  affifled 
him  in  it,  he  fays,  whether  ferioufly  or  in  plea- 
fantry,  does  not  appear,  "  I  hope  that  they  who 
*•  come  after  us  will  pray  for  the  remillion  of  our 
*'  fins ;  fince,  inftead  of  ten  years,  in  which  it  was 
*'  difficult  to  obtain  an  imperfect  knowledge  of 
*'  pfalmody,  we  now  make  a  chanter  in  one  year, 
•'  or  at  moft  in  two."  He  fays  that  pope  John 
XIX  fent  for  him,  and  was  wonderfully  plea  fed 
with  his  invention. 

Tho'  ths  gamut  was  not  wholly  of  Guide's  in- 
vention, he  greatly  improved  it,  by  affixing  to 
the  letters  certain  fyllables,  extracled  from  a  hymn 
to  John  the  Baptifl  for  the  purpofe  of  intonation, 
which  was  the  origin  o^foljaing.  He  alfa  reduced 
the  flave  to  four  lines,  by  ufmg  the  intermediate 
fpaces  together  with  them,  at  the  fame  time  pre- 
fixing certain  letters,  viz.  F  and  C  at  the  bt^i:, 
ning,    which  was   the  origin  of  clijfs,     Wilhams^ 

P-  39- 

The  difputes  between  the   Greek  and   Latin 

churches,  and  alfo  thofe  between  the  popes  and, 
the»emperors,  in  this  period,  were  the  means  of 
promoting  inquiry  and  difcufFion,  and  of  many 
'perfons  applying  to  literature.  The  ftudy  of  di- 
vinity was  particularly  attended  to  by  the  monks 
of  Mount  Caffin,  at  firfl  by  having  recourfe  to  the 
JF^thers,  but  afterwards  in  a  more  logical  way; 

G  g  3  ths 


4^70  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVI^ 

the  works  of  Ariflotle  having  been  introduced  among 
Chriftians  by  the  Arabs.   Giannone,  Vol.  i.  p.  487. 
In    A.    D,     820   the     Caiiph    Almamon  ap- 
plied to  the  emperor  at   Conftantinople  for  books 
in  the  Greek  language,  and  thofehe  got  tranflated 
into  Arabic ;    but  the  Arabs   confined  themfelves 
to  books  relating  to  mathematics,  natural  philofo- 
phy,  and  medicine.       They  particularly  attached 
themfeHes  to  the  works  of  Ariftotle,  Hippocrates, 
and  Galen.       Many  of  thefe  books  Charlemagne 
and  others  got  tranflated  from  Arabic  into  Latin  i 
and  foon  after   fchools   were  inftituted  in   which 
this  kind  of  knowledge  was  taught.       Salerno  was 
partxularly  diftinguiflied  for  Arabic  literature,  in 
confequence  of  the  eafy   accefs  to   this  place  from 
the  Eaft  and  from  Ahica.      On    this   account  it 
foon  had  the  greatefl;  reputation  of  any  fchool  in 
Europe,  efpecially  for  medicine.   Gia^mone,    Vol. 
I.  p.  489.     Gerbert  a  native  of  France,  afterwards 
pope    Silvefler   II,    diftinguiflied  himfelf  by  his 
application  to    this  kind  of  literature,    efpecially 
mathematics   and  aftronomy,    which    he  derived 
from  the  Arabs  in  Spain,  having  fpent  fome  time 
in  the  univerfity  of  Cordova  and  Seville ;  and  his 
ex:\mple  induced  many  to  apply  to  the  fame  fource 
of  information.   AioJIieim,   Vol.  2.  p,  199. 

2.   Lanfranc  was  a  great  reilorer  of  letters   in 
Isormandy.     Many  fl.u*iied  under  him  at  themo- 

naftery 


Bec.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH.         m 

naftery  of  Bee,  efpecially  Anfelm,  his  fucceflbr  in 
the  fee  of  Canterbury.  Anfelm  was,  without . 
difpute,  the  bell  metaphyfican  the  church  had  ever 
had  before  him,  at  leaft  fince  Auftin,  as  his  writ- 
ings now  extant  teftify.  In  one  of  his  works  he 
gives  the  metaphylical  arguments  for  the  being  of 
God,  and  went  before  Clark  in  the  fubtle  but 
unfatisfa6lory  arguments  a  priori.  "  God,"  fays 
he,  "  mufl:  neceffarily  have  exiftence;  for  he  is 
♦'  poireffed  of  all  perfections,  and  exi/ience  cannot 
*'  be  denied  to  be  one." 

Odo,  before  he  was  made  abbot  of  St.  Mar- 
tin's at  Tournay,  diftinguilhed  himfelf  by  teach- 
ing the  fciences.  He  chiefly  excelled  in  logic, 
of  which  he  compofed  three  bocks.  Following 
the  do£lrine  of  Boethius,  and  the  antients,  he 
maintained,  that  the  obje6l  of  this  art  was  things, 
and  not  words,  as  fome  of  the  more  moderns, 
boafting  to  follow  Porphyry  and  Ariftotle,  pre-- 
tended.  Of  this  clafs  was  Rainbert,  who  taught 
logic  at  Lifle,  and  decried  the  do6lrine  of  Odo. 
This  was  the  commencement  of  the  two  fe6ls  of 
Ncminalijls  and  Realijis,  fo  famous  in  the  fchools 
afterwards. 

We  find  fome  perfons  beginning  to  colled 
books,  and  form  libraries.  Bouchard  bifhop  of 
Worms,  in  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh  cenfury, 
|iad  more  than  an  hundred  volumes  of  ecclefiaftical 

^  g  4  ^uthors^ 


472  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVII, 

authors,  and  an  hundred  and  fifty  of  profane 
writers,  which  was  then  confidered  as  a  great 
library. 

At  what  time  the  bible  was  divided  into  chap- 
'  ters  as  now  in  ufe  does  not  appear ;  but  Humbert, 
legate  from  pope  Leo  IX  in  a.  d.  1054,  quotes 
thofe  of  the  old  teftament  as  they  now  are.  The 
divifion  into  verfes  wa^  made  by  R.  Stephens  after 
the  revival  of  letters. 

3.  Archite6lure,  and  other  ornamental  arts, 
had  been  negle£ted  in  Taly  more  than  five  hunr 
dred  years  before  the  time  of  Defiderius,  who  re- 
built the  monaftery  of  Mount  Caflin  ;  fo  that  he 
was  obliged  to  fend  for  workmen  from  Conftanti- 
nople. 

4.  It  will  give  tny  readers  feme  idea  of  the 
nature  of  the  legends,  or  fabulous  lives  of  faints 
and  martyrs,  which  were  impofed  on  the  world  in 
ignorant  and  ciedulous  ages,  to  be  told  that 
at  the  council  of  Limoges  in  a.  d.  1031,  it  was 
folemnly  difcuffed  whether  St.  Martial  fhould  be 
ranked  among  the  apojiles,  or  confejfors ;  when, 
as  Fleury  fays,  his  whole  hiftory  was  founded  on 
a  legend,  compofed  under  the  name  of  one  of  his 
diiciples  called  Aurelian,  and  which  was  not 
known  before  the  tenth  century.  In  this  hiflory 
it  was  faid  that  Martial  was  a  relation  of  St.  Peter 
pnd  3t,  Stephen,   that  by  ths  order   of  Chrill  he 

was 


Sec.  IX.  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH*  47S, 

was  baptized  by  Peter  himfelf,  that  he  was  made 
a  bifhop  b.y  Chrift  after  his  afcenfion,  and  fent  by 
him  into  Gaul,  after  he  had  received  the  Holy 
Spirit  at  the  day  of  Pentecoft.  The  debate  ter- 
minated with  his  being  called  an  apoftle.  But 
when  the  archbifhop  Aimon,  who  prefided,  was 
proceeding  to  pronounce  an  anathema  againfl  thofe 
who  denied  it,  the  bifhop  of  Limoges,  who  had 
contended  for  his  being  only  a  confeflTor,  obtained 
a  delay  of  the  fentence.     Flcury,  Vol.  12.  p.  487. 

5.  In  this  age  the  trial  by  ordeal,  received  im- 
mediately from  the  Northern  nations  of  Europe, 
but  which  came  originally  from  the  Eafl,  where 
it  is  praftifed  to  this  day,  was  in  the  greateft  cre- 
dit, notwithftanding  the  decrees  of  councils  and 
popes  againfl  the  ufe  of  it;  and  in  (his  period  oc- 
curred (as  was  recited  in  Se^ion  111)  a  cafe  of  a 
ieeming  miracle  by  means  of  it,  perhaps  the  bell 
attefled  of  any  fince  the  age  of  the  apoltles.  With 
refpecl  to  it  I  would  obferve  that  Mr.  Fieury  co- 
pied this  account  from  a  letter  of  the  people  and 
clergy  of  Florence  to  pope  Alexander  II ;  but 
tho'  it  is  faid  by  Mr.  Berington,  in  the  Introduction 
to  his  Hijiory  of  Abelard,  to  be  attefled  by  the 
hiflorians  of  the  age,  it  is  probable  that  they  all 
had  it  from  this  one  fource. 

Improbable  as   it  mull   appear  a  priori,     thafc 
the  divine  Being  lliould  give  courxtenance  to  fuch 

G  g  5  aprac- 


4r4  THE  HISTORY  OF      Per.  XVH. 

a  pra£lics  as  this,  the  fa.Ot  is  certainly  not  impoffible. 
But  when  it  is  conlidered  that  all  the  people  of 
Florence,  their  magiftrates,  and  the  monks,  were 
intcrefted  in  the  fuccefs  of  the  trial ;  and  that  the 
eniy  account  we  have  of  it  was  drawn  up  by  them- 
felves,  fome  doubt  will  remain  both  with  refpeO: 
tQ  the  eircumftances  previous  to  the  trial,  and  the 
iiTue  01  it ;  fo  that  the  chance  of  fafety  might  be 
fomething  greater  than  is  reprefented,  and  the 
Eionk  might  not  have  come  ofF  quite  fo  well. 
Nothing  alfo  is  faid  of  the  direction  of  the  wind, 
or  of  there  being  any  current  of  the  air,  at  the  time, 
and  much  would  depend  upon  that,  Befides,  if 
a  real  miracle  was  depended  upon,  why  was  not 
the  monk  placed  in  the  middle  of  a  burning  pile, 
gnd  made  to  continue  there  till  it  was  burned  out. 
Why  had  hie  any  chance  of  efcaping  unhurt,  which 
the  dift-'Uce  of  the  burning  piles  certainly  gave 
him. 

To  gain  our  entire  credit,  the  miracle  fhould 
have  been  performed  in  the  prefcnce  of  the  ene- 
mies as  well  as  of  the  friends  to  the  iffue  of  it ;  and 
if  they  did  not  join  in  the  report,  it  fhould  appear 
from  the  eircumftances  that  they  were  unab  e  to 
contradicl  it.  The  bifhop's  refignation  might  arife 
from  the  confcioufnefs  of  his  guilt,  and  of  his  ex- 
treme unpopulnvity,  without  any  convi6lion  of 
the  trr.th  of  the  miraok. 

Mofhcim 


Sec.  IX.    THE  CHRISTIAN  CHUflCH.  4^3 

MofTheim  makes  no  mention  of  this  extraordi- 
nary fa6l,  and  Baronius  places  it  in  a.  d,  1063, 
and  not  in  1075  where  Fleury,  followed  by  Mr. 
Berington,  places  it ;  a  difference  fufficiently  re- 
markable. The  truth  of  Chriftianity  does  not  reft 
on  fuch  miracles  as  thefe. 

.Thi«,  too,  was  very  different  from  the  cafe  of 
Shadrach  Mefhach  and  Abednego  at  Babylon, 
when  their  enemies  who  threw  them  into  the 
furnace  were  confumed ;  and  when,  after  conti- 
nuing evidently  a  confiTJerable  time,  the  king  him- 
felf  ordered  them  to  come  out,  and  then  made  a 
folemn  decree,  in  favour  of  their  religion  ;  reciting, 
and  acknowledging,  the  miracle  as  the  occafion 
of  it. 

Succefsful  and  fatisfadory  as  the  iffue  of  this 
trial  by  ordeal  is  faid  to  have  been,  it  does  not 
appear  that  more  recourfe  was  had  to  it  afterwards, 
tho',  no  doubtj  many  fimilar  occafions  muft  have 
occurred. 

The  End  of  the  Jlr  St  Volume  of  the  second  Part. 


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